Vladimir Tarasenko did what he needed to do last season. After a miserable year in Detroit, he went to Minnesota and started scoring again.
The reward? A whole lot of nothing.
Tarasenko remains unsigned more than a month into free agency. Edmonton and Ottawa have been floated as possible destinations, and a return to Minnesota may still be an option. So far, none of that chatter has produced a deal.
It’s a strange position for a player who scored 23 goals last season. Then again, Tarasenko is 34. In the NHL, that number can scare teams more than anything appearing on the stat sheet.
Vladimir Tarasenko still has something to offer
Detroit traded Tarasenko to Minnesota for future considerations after he finished with only 11 goals and 33 points in 2024–25. It was basically an admission that the Red Wings wanted his $4.75 million cap hit gone and weren’t terribly concerned about the return.
The Wild received a much better version.
Tarasenko played 75 games, scored 23 times and finished with 47 points. He chipped in another five points during Minnesota’s 11 playoff games. Nobody will confuse those numbers with his prime in St. Louis, but they’re hardly the work of a player who should be checking his phone every 10 minutes in August.
He can still shoot. That part hasn’t vanished.
What has changed is everything around it. Tarasenko isn’t creating space as easily as he once did, and his defensive game won’t earn him extra ice time. Minnesota used him for just under 15 minutes per night.
Put him on a contender’s second or third line with the right center, and there’s probably another 20-goal season available. Ask him to drive a line or rescue a weak offense, and everyone involved may regret the arrangement by Thanksgiving.
Vladimir Tarasenko may have misread the market
His previous contract paid him $4.75 million per season. Maybe Tarasenko entered July looking for similar money. Perhaps he wanted multiple years.
That doesn’t mean his career is finished. It means the available jobs aren’t likely to come with the salary or role he expected.
Edmonton could use another proven scorer, although cap space is always an adventure for the Oilers. Ottawa has been connected to Tarasenko before, but its forward group is already crowded. Minnesota knows exactly what he can provide and still hasn’t brought him back.
None of those situations creates much leverage.
Tarasenko has won Stanley Cups with St. Louis and Florida. He owns 51 goals in 132 career playoff games, which should catch the attention of a contender eventually. One injury during camp could open a roster spot overnight.
That may be what he’s waiting for now.
Tarasenko hasn’t forgotten how to score. He simply reached the stage of his career when teams stop paying for the resume and start circling the remaining flaws. A contract should arrive before the season begins, but the silence has already delivered the unpleasant message.
The NHL still wants his goals. It just doesn’t want to pay very much for them.