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Veteran forward Vladimir Tarasenko is on the move once again.
Tarasenko signed a two-year, $4.75 million AAV contract with the Detroit Red Wings after helping the Florida Panthers win the Stanley Cup.
Acquired in a midseason trade by the Panthers, Tarasenko finished out the regular season with 14 points in 19 games before becoming a key depth piece in the Panthers’ playoff run.
He went on to score the conference finals-winning goal in Game 6 against the New York Rangers to send the Panthers to the Final.
Tarasenko, a 2010 first-round pick by the St. Louis Blues, was in the middle of his 11th season in Missouri when he was traded to the New York Rangers for their 2023 playoff push.
He signed a one-year deal with the Ottawa Senators prior to the 2023-24 season, then agreed to waive his no-trade clause in order to finish out the campaign with the Florida Panthers.
Tarasenko’s shooting volume has decreased from his days as a consistent 30-goal scorer in St. Louis, but he was able to contribute offense on the Panthers’ third line on the team’s way to the Cup.
He could similarly bolster the Red Wings’ forward depth as he looks to provide a veteran presence on a team led by young stars like Lucas Raymond and Moritz Seider.
