Another game, another tribute; this time, Tarasenko gets his recognition in return to St. Louis

They already did video tributes for Jaden Schwartz (Seattle), Ivan Barbashev (Vegas), Oskar Sundqvist (Minnesota) and David Perron (Detroit) prior to Thursday, and Jake Walman and Ville Husso (Detroit) and coach Jim Montgomery (Boston) each received video recognition.

Those in itself could last an eternity.

But alas, one of the longest-tenured Blues was making his way into town and it was his moment to be in the spotlight: Vladimir Tarasenko.

Tarasenko and Niko Mikkola each returned with the New York Rangers and it was their turn to get the gratification from Blues fans, with Tarasenko getting a near two-minute video tribute and Mikkola getting the video recognition in the first period of the Blues' 3-2 overtime win at Enterprise Center.

Tarasenko was traded from the Blues to the Rangers with Mikkola on Feb. 9. The forward, who had 553 points (262 goals, 291 assists) in 644 NHL games with St. Louis and was a part of the 2019 Stanley Cup championship team, received a standing ovation during the first period.

"It was (a) very emotional moment for me," Tarasenko said. "Thank you very much to the whole community. I don’t really talk since the trade, but all the support they gave us for those 11 years was unreal. Always love the fans. The fans were very nice to me and my family. So it was very, very emotional for us. Thank you very much for doing that. I don’t really have words to describe how I felt, but thank you."

Tarasenko, who had a goal and an assist in his return to St. Louis, smiled multiple times when he was shown on the video board, and the applause was quite noticeable despite Tarasenko's trade demands after the 2020-21 season.

"I’m not going to lie, it was very hard for me emotionally," Tarasenko said. "I had a very good feeling when I walked into the building. I see all the guys, I had a chance to talk to my (former) teammates, my friends now. This place will always be special in our hearts. Whatever people say in the media, we always loved the city. It comes from me, we always appreciate all the support, the club and the fans and friends gave us, teammates, everybody. The city, the fans will be in our hearts forever."

Mikkola, a fifth-round pick in 2015, was touched to even be recognized.

"It feels like I was here yesterday," Mikkola said. "Great friends over there, great atmosphere here every time. I was a little nervous.

"They've always been good to me here. It was nice to see that."

Alexey Toropchenko, who scored for the fourth time in six games, was one of the young Russians Tarasenko took under his wing and continues to thrive. He's appreciative to get the chance now to face his former mentor, who he said has helped him, "a lot.

"First of all, when I got drafted, Vladi was like — it was a dream to play with him in one team. He helped me a lot and his wife [Yana] helped my wife a lot. So it was a very good time with him here. It was good to play against him, too. So it was fun.

"We just made a little eye contact and said hi to each other. We’re going to talk right now after the game."

Blues coach Craig Berube had the luxury of not only coaching Tarasenko but allowing the veteran to work the Russians.

"I think Vladi, with all the Russians that came in, we had a handful here for a bit," Berube said. 'They’re a pretty tight-knit group and you know Vladi’s the elder statesman so-called of it. He’s been here a long time. So Vladi was good at bringing those guys in and making them feel comfortable and working with them and talking to them and all that stuff.

"He used to tell me all the time when I pulled him in the room and talk to Vladi about things – leadership and things like that. He would always say to m, 'I’ll talk to the Russians and communicate to them what we’re trying to do.' So he was very good that way."

When the tribute was over, Blues skaters gave Tarasenko, who was the 16th pick in the 2010 NHL Draft -- two picks behind Schwartz -- stick taps in appreciation.

"Vladi, even when I got here eight years ago, is someone you look up to right when you get here," Blues defenseman Colton Parayko said. "Even down to the last time he’s here, I still kind of go to him for advice and look towards him. He’s just that kind of player. He’s that kind of guy around the room where everyone knows that he’s a good player, a good person and kind of look to him. 'Torps,' obviously, I feel like the Russians stick together a lot and they’re always together. Yeah, I think 'Torps' has learned a lot from him and good job by Vladi to help him out."

Toropchenko felt Tarasenko deserved the reception he got.

"It was a great video and you saw fans were cheering a lot for him because he’s been almost like his whole, not whole, but most of his career, like 10 years," Torppchenko said. "It’s always good to be back. Fans will always remember you."

Especially in St. Louis.

"It was kind of a big deal playing against a team where you played the last 11 years," Tarasenko said. "But we lost. It was nice at that moment (though)."