The Edmonton Oilers have cap room left to work with, but the winger name drawing the loudest chatter is one that clearly splits opinion: Vladimir Tarasenko.
For some, the appeal is obvious. Tarasenko still brings a scorer’s touch, he’s coming off a 23-goal season, and there’s enough playoff pedigree in his background to make him look like a plausible fit in a top-six role. He’s also viewed as a player with something to prove after bouncing around and trying to show he can still belong with elite talent.
But that’s only half the story. The other half is the risk, and it’s a real one.
Tarasenko is 34 and just finished a 47-point season with the Minnesota Wild. He’s also had two rough years before that, which is exactly why the idea of Edmonton taking a swing on him has fans wary.
The Oilers have seen this movie before. Andrew Mangiapane arrived last season with the hope he could rediscover the game he had in Calgary.
Jeff Skinner came in a couple of years earlier with the pitch that he had already been a 30-goal scorer. Neither move paid off.
That history matters, especially when the fit isn’t clean on paper. Critics have pointed to Tarasenko’s declining footspeed and asked whether he can keep up with the pace Edmonton demands from Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. That concern only gets sharper once the games tighten up and the tempo rises in the playoffs.
Then there’s the money. Tarasenko carried a $4.75 million cap hit, and the reporting around Edmonton’s interest suggests he’d likely need to come in closer to $2 million for the numbers to work.
That’s a steep drop, and some doubt he’d make that kind of move when he still has enough of a résumé to command more. He could do it, but if he were eager to sign for that number right now, it seems fair to wonder why it hasn’t already happened.
There is still a case for taking the gamble. Tarasenko’s finishing ability is real, and his championship experience gives him a different kind of value if the price is right.
At a team-friendly number, he could turn into a steal. But if it goes the other way, the downside is just as obvious: the production dries up, and the fit under Mike Babcock’s new system never materializes.
That’s why some around the team think Edmonton might be better served looking elsewhere, including a swing on Ike Howard or another prospect forward to see what they can provide at the NHL level.
The biggest concern isn’t just whether Tarasenko helps. It’s what the Oilers give up by spending their remaining cap space on him. They could block a young player from earning a spot this season, or they could burn the flexibility they might want to save for a bigger move later at the trade deadline.
For now, nothing is close. League insiders have been careful to frame Tarasenko as a name to watch, not a deal on the verge of getting done.
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Wild Could Spark Real Camp Competition With Low-Risk Veteran Help
The Wild are looking at a practical way to add some bite to the bottom six without tying up cap space or committing to a guaranteed deal. A professional tryout at training camp would let Minnesota bring in an established veteran, get a closer look before opening night and push the current roster spots into real competition.
That framework puts a few familiar names in play, including David Perron, Brandon Saad and Jonathan Drouin, each of whom brings the kind of experience and offensive touch that could fit a depth role. For a team that wants more options up front, the appeal is obvious: low risk, useful evaluation time and a chance to see whether one of those unsigned forwards can turn camp into a roster opening. [Read more 🡒]