Vladimir Tarasenko looked like one of the safer bets in this year’s free agent pool not long ago. Now, with training camp nearing, he’s still waiting for a team.
That’s a sharp turn for a player who finished last season strong in Minnesota. Tarasenko arrived in an offseason trade with the Detroit Red Wings for future considerations, slid into a middle-six role and delivered 23 goals and 47 points in the regular season. He added two goals and five points during the Wild’s 11-game playoff run, enough production to suggest one more meaningful contract was coming as he moved into his age-35 season.
Instead, his market has stalled.
Tarasenko changed agents last June, leaving Paul Theofanous and Pat Brisson for Dan Milstein of Gold Star Hockey. Before free agency opened on July 1, The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun reported that Tarasenko was “headed to market” and that Milstein had "permission to speak directly to teams” ahead of the process. Michael Russo later said the Wild did not grant that permission and added that “there is no courting period in the NHL,” which raised the possibility of tampering.
Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman then floated the potential fallout from such a situation, saying punishment could include a fine up to $5 million, suspensions or the loss of draft picks. Whether that chatter cooled interest or not, Tarasenko still hasn’t landed a deal.
The price point may be part of it. Brennan McClain of Pro Hockey Rumors projected Tarasenko at $2.0 to $3.5 million on a short-term or one-year contract. That kind of number can work for a team looking for a low-risk scoring add, but it’s clearly not moving quickly.
Minnesota, meanwhile, doesn’t look like an easy reunion spot. The Wild re-signed Bobby Brink and brought in Maxim Shabanov in free agency, and Puckpedia projects the club with just $1.15 million in cap space. An injury could always change the picture, but right now the math is tight.
There’s also the wrinkle of Minnesota still trying to trade for Dylan Larkin from the Detroit Red Wings, which would make a Tarasenko return even less likely.
And teams may have reasons to pause. Tarasenko opened last season slowly, scoring only two goals in his first 18 games.
He also dealt with a lower body injury that cost him seven games in November. NHL Edge’s metrics showed his skating speed below average, and his 2024-25 season with the Red Wings already sat a couple of years removed from a muted 11-goal, 33-point campaign in 80 games.
So while Tarasenko’s production in Minnesota put him on the radar as a desirable winger, the combination of price, uncertainty and last season’s warning signs has left him without a home as training camp gets closer.
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Wild Face Rising Pressure As Quinn Hughes Situation Gets More Serious
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Around the league, the pressure is only increasing. The Flyers are reportedly emerging as a possible suitor thanks to their cap flexibility, while the Devils remain in the mix with the obvious family angle still working in their favor. Nothing has been finalized and no official moves have been made, but the longer this drags on, the more the Wild have to contend with the possibility that one of their biggest swings could turn into a far more complicated offseason story. [Read more 🡒]