Blue Jackets trade Tarisov, bring Gaunce back
Thursday, June 26, 2025
Staff Reports
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Columbus Blue Jackets goalie Daniil Tarasov was traded to the Florida Panthers Thursday for a fifth-round pick in this weekend’s NHL Draft. File photo
The Columbus Blue Jackets have acquired a fifth-round pick, 160th overall, in the 2025 NHL Draft, from the Florida Panthers in exchange for goaltender Daniil Tarasov, the team announced Thursday.
Tarasov, 26, registered a 19-34-6 record with a 3.44 goals-against average (GAA), .898 save percentage (SV%) and one shutout in 65 career appearances with Columbus since making his NHL debut in 2021-22. The 6-5, 203-pound netminder was selected by Columbus in the third-round, 86th overall, at the 2017 NHL Draft.
“On behalf of the Blue Jackets, I’d like to thank Daniil for his contributions to our organization over the past four years,” said Waddell. “He is an outstanding young man, and we wish he and his family well in the future.”
A native of Novokuznetsk, Russia, Tarasov will presumably serve as the back-up to former Blue Jacket goalie Sergei Bobrovski, who also hails from Novokuznetsk. The Panthers just beat the Edmonton Oilers for the second straight year in the Stanley Cup Finals.
Brendan Gaunce will be returning to the Blue Jackets after a trade with Minnesota for Cameron Butler. Gaunce played for the CBJ from 2021 to 2024. File photo
The Blue Jackets also announced that they have acquired forward Brendan Gaunce from the Minnesota Wild in exchange for forward Cameron Butler.
Gaunce, 31, has registered 13 goals and 16 assists for 29 points with 71 penalty minutes and 230 shots on goal, while averaging 10:39 of ice time in 189 career NHL games with the Wild, Blue Jackets, Boston Bruins and Vancouver Canucks since making his NHL debut in 2015-16.
A native of Sudbury, Ontario, Gaunce was signed by Columbus as a free agent on July 30, 2021 and recorded 7-5-12 over three campaigns with the club from 2021-24. He set single-season NHL career highs in goals and points in 2021-22 with 5-2-7 in 30 games with the Blue Jackets.
The 6-3, 219-pound forward has added 123-139-262 with 240 penalty minutes and 1,005 shots on goal in 382 career games with the Iowa Wild, Cleveland Monsters, Providence Bruins, and Utica Comets over 10 American Hockey League seasons since making his professional debut in 2014-15.
Butler, 23, appeared in one game with the Blue Jackets, making his league debut on Mar. 30, 2024 vs. Pittsburgh. He collected 4-7-11 in 91 career appearances with the Monsters since making his pro debut at the end of the 2022-23 season. The 6-4, 215-pound native of Ottawa, Ontario was signed by Columbus on Mar. 16, 2023.