Daniil Tarasov is wasting no time making a case for himself in Detroit.
The former Columbus Blue Jackets goalie signed a one-year, $2 million deal with the Red Wings this offseason, and through the early stretch of his new run, he’s been turning in the kind of numbers that stand out. His record sits at 2-2-2, but the underlying performance has been much stronger than that mark suggests.
Tarasov’s .929 save percentage is second-best in the NHL among goalies who have appeared in at least five games. His 1.79 goals-against average is third-best in the league. That’s a sharp start for a goalie who came into the season after going 13-15-3 with a 3.05 goals-against average and an .895 save percentage in 33 games for the Florida Panthers last year.
He’s also been consistently sharp in several outings. Tarasov has posted a .923 save percentage or better in four of his appearances this season, including a perfect 30-save showing against the Montreal Canadiens on Oct. 10, not counting the shootout.
For Detroit, that’s exactly the kind of early stability you want from a new goalie. And if Tarasov keeps this level of play going, he could put himself in line for a much better payday on his next contract.
Tarasov’s path to this point started when Columbus picked him 86th overall in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft. He spent four seasons with the Blue Jackets, appearing in 65 games and finishing with a 19-34-6 record, an .898 save percentage and a 3.44 goals-against average.
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Blue Jackets Face A Crucial Home Stand With Scoring Pressure Rising
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