This is no surprise to anyone as we’ve seen the Chicago Blackhawks do the same thing when Patrick Kane was out with a shoulder injury and wouldn’t return until the playoffs.
The reason a team can do this is according to the NHL rule book there is no salary cap in the playoffs. If Vladimir Tarasenko remains on IR for the remainder of the season then the Blues will have his estimated $7.5 million cap hit freed up to be used to sign another player or players up to that amount.
The Blues plan to meet with Tarasenko and the team doctors to get a clearer return time in the upcoming week or two prior to the deadline.