The Minnesota Wild’s secondary scoring has been one of the biggest reasons the team has looked like a contender this season, and Vladimir Tarasenko and Ryan Hartman have been central to that effort. Together, they have given Minnesota more scoring depth behind the top stars, helping create offense on multiple lines and making the Wild harder to game-plan against.
Tarasenko has provided exactly what the Wild hoped for: a proven goal scorer who can finish chances and punish teams that focus too heavily on the top line. He has 22 goals and 22 assists for 42 points in 70 games. That kind of production from a secondary scorer matters in tight playoff races.
We can’t quantify his value solely by using counting stats. Tarasenko has also provided a more consistent shot threat and a veteran presence on the wing, taking pressure off Kirill Kaprizov and Matt Boldy to drive offense every night. That has made the Wild less predictable and more resilient in games where the opponent effectively checks the top line.
Hartman has been just as important in a different way. He has produced 22 goals and 19 assists in 73 games, while also bringing the edge, pace, and versatility that have long defined his game. Hartman generates offense and has some versatility, making him especially valuable. He can help at even strength, chip in on special teams, and move around the lineup depending on injuries or matchup needs, which gives the coaching staff more flexibility. That kind of utility matters for a team trying to stay competitive over a long season and into the playoffs.
The real story is how Tarasenko and Hartman have changed the shape of the Wild’s attack. Minnesota hasn’t had to rely as heavily on one or two scorers, and that balance has made the offense feel more sustainable. When secondary players are scoring consistently, the team can survive quieter nights from its best forwards and still stay in games.
That depth is also a playoff advantage. In the postseason, opponents try to take away obvious scoring threats, so teams need goals from the middle of the lineup to keep pressure on. Tarasenko and Hartman give the Wild that kind of insurance, and it could be a big reason Minnesota enters the postseason with more confidence than it would have without them.
So far this year, the impact has been statistical and structural. Tarasenko and Hartman have each hovered around the 40-point mark, which is strong middle-six production. However, the bigger effect is that they have made Minnesota’s offense deeper and harder to contain.
The Wild have also gotten 15 goals and 36 assists for 51 points from Brock Faber, as well as 15 goals and 36 assists from Mats Zuccarello. They even got 40-point seasons from Joel Eriksson Ek and Marcus Johansson. Pair that with what Quinn Hughes supplied after the Wild traded for him, and they have ample offensive depth.
For the Wild to be more than just a top-heavy scoring club, secondary scoring matters just as much. Secondary scoring often decides whether a playoff team advances past the first or second round. Minnesota looks more equipped than it has in previous seasons, with 9 players scoring more than 40 points on the season.
That kind of balance is a big reason the Wild have been so difficult to play against this year. With nine players clearing the 40-point mark, Minnesota isn’t depending on just one line or one scorer to carry the offense. Having that sort of depth gives them a real chance to keep rolling when the games get tighter. If Tarasenko and Hartman keep producing as part of that wave, the Wild’s scoring depth could end up being a strength come playoff time.
Think you could write a story like this? Hockey Wilderness wants you to develop your voice, find an audience, and we’ll pay you to do it. Just fill out this form.