Rangers’ Stanley Cup Odds Listed at +1500 After Acquiring Vladimir Tarasenko

• The Rangers made a splash in the trade market on Thursday landing Vladimir Tarasenko from the Blues
• New York’s Stanley Cup price tag was shortened from +2000 to +1500 following the move
• See below for the updated Stanley Cup odds, plus analysis on whether to bet the Rangers

The NHL trade deadline is still nearly a month away but the New York Rangers simply couldn’t wait until March 3rd to upgrade their roster. New York landed one of the biggest fish on the market on Thursday, acquiring Vladimir Tarasenko from the St. Louis Blues.

The move significantly bolsters the Rangers offensive ceiling, and their championship prospects according to online sportsbooks.

Odds to Win Stanley Cup 2023

Odds as of February 9th, 2023, at FanDuel Sportsbook. 

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New York’s Stanley Cup odds were shortened from +2000 to +1500 following the move, making them a top-six contender. The Rangers currently occupy third place in the Metropolitan Division as they eye another deep playoff run.

St. Louis meanwhile, is officially throwing in the towel. The 2019 champs saw their title odds lengthened from +11500 to +13000, as they appear destined to miss the postseason for the first time since 2018.

New York Rangers Stanley Cup Betting Analysis

New York has been a little underwhelming through 51 games, but don’t forget this was a final four team last season. They have one of the league’s lowest goals against thanks to all-world goalie Igor Shesterkin, but they’ve struggled to put the puck in the back of the net.

The Rangers desperately wanted to add another proven scorer to their top line, and somebody who could help ignite a lackluster powerplay. Tarasenko checks both of those boxes despite underwhelming 2022-23 numbers.

The former 40-goal scorer has just 10 goals and 19 assists through 29 games. On the bright side, he’s finally healthy after three shoulder surgeries in the last four years, and looked like his former self at the All-Stat Game racking up four points.

Vladimir Tarasenko made his NHL debut with the St Louis Blues on January 19th, 2013.

10 years, 21 days, 734 games, 303 goals, and a Stanley Cup later…he is now a New York Ranger. #STLBlues pic.twitter.com/vcdPDY1Yu4

— Blues Views (@STLBluesViews) February 9, 2023

He’ll slot in on the number one line along with countryman Artemi Panarin and Mike Zibanejad, which is an imposing top unit. The Rangers second line featuring Alexis Lafreniere, Filip Chytil and Kaapo Kako has been among the best trios all season, meaning New York now has one of best groups of top-six forwards in the league.

Tarasenko has been a key cog on the Blues’ top power-play unit for a decade. He brings 154 career powerplay points to New York, who ranks 17th in powerplay percentage. A major special teams upgrade was necessary for the Rangers to keep up with the East’s best teams, and Tarasenko seems like a perfect fit.

New York has the seventh easiest strength of schedule remaining, giving them plenty of opportunity to make up ground on the New Jersey Devils and Carolina Hurricanes in front of them.

Can Tarasenko Put the Rangers Over the Top?

The best part of this move for New York is that it cost them virtually nothing in the short term. Going back the other way was seldom used forward Sammy Bias, prospect Hunter Skinner, and future first and second-round conditional draft picks.

They say goaltending wins championships, but if that were truly the case then the Rangers would be the Stanley Cup favorite. New York has the luxury of already having that position figured out, as well as a solid defense in front of Shesterkin.

Full Tarasenko trade:

Blues get:
– conditional 2023 1st round pick
– conditional 2024 4th round pick
– prospect Hunter Skinner
– Sammy Blais
* Blues retain 50 percent of Tarasenko's salary.

Rangers get:
– Vladimir Tarasenko
– Niko Mikkola

— Jeremy Rutherford (@jprutherford) February 9, 2023

They desperately needed to add more firepower. They kicked the tires on Patrick Kane, but the asking price was too steep. It appears they struck gold with Shesterkin, especially since St. Louis is eating half of the contract.

Yes, his numbers are down this season, but a change of scenery is exactly what he needs. This is the same player who had a career-high 82 points in 2021-22, and has six 30+ goal seasons on his resume.

Vladimir Tarasenko Stats – Last 5 Seasons

Carolina is the biggest obstacle between New York and a return trip to the Eastern Conference Finals, and don’t forget the Rangers ousted the Hurricanes last postseason without home-ice advantage.

+1500 is an incredibly fair price for this New York team to win it all. I’d lay that in a heartbeat before betting on the Devils, Vegas Golden Knights or Dallas Stars who all boast the same odds.