Currently, the 4 Nations Face-Off break is going on in the NHL. However, since the trade deadline will be approaching in a few weeks, the teams have a final chance to make big decisions. And teams like the Detroit Red Wings, who actually have a chance this season to make the Stanley Cup playoffs, might look out for the opportunities out there.
Indeed, it has been a while since the team made it to the playoff stage, as the last time was during the 2015-16 season. Even though they might not be the favorites for a Stanley Cup trophy holder, they won’t deny a spot in the next stage of the NHL. And recently, an NHL insider shared his thoughts on the Red Wings, who might be seeking out a potential trade of one of their star forwards.
So where do the Red Wings stand right now? With 61 points, they barely make it to the playoff spot, considering the whole Eastern Conference. However, there are other teams like the Columbus Blue Jackets, the Boston Bruins, the New York Rangers, and even the New York Islanders, who might edge them out by getting a few points and rising in the ranks.
While all of their players are giving their best, one of them isn’t able to reach his best form, and it’s Vladimir Tarasenko. The Russian NHL star who signed a two-year, $9.5 million contract in July 2024 has been struggling with the Red Wings since becoming a Stanley Cup winner with the Florida Panthers last season.
Talking about the issues, Elliotte Friedman shared his thoughts on 32 Thoughts: The Podcast on YouTube, stating, “It’s just, if you look at how they’ve gone, he’s sort of the one guy that has been the odd fit. Um, and you know he has a no-trade clause, um, so ultimately he has control, but I think, you know, I was talking to some people who see the Red Wings a bit more than I do, and they weren’t surprised to hear that in the sense that, you know, as the team’s gotten better and some players have started to play better, it has still been a bit of a square peg in a round hole for Tarasenko.”
There have been many reports that Tarasenko isn’t having a good time with the Red Wings. Indeed, something isn’t clicking with the #11 after he came from the Panthers with a historic short stint. Putting out his thoughts for him, possibly seeking out a Panthers deal, Friedman went candid, stating, “Um, you know, I got to think that, you know, Florida doesn’t have a lot of flexibility; they don’t have a lot to deal with, and they don’t have a lot of cap room, but they know the player. Uh, you know, that was actually the first thing I thought of when I got off the air. I bet in particular Tarasenko would probably love to go back there too. Um, but I just don’t know where this is going to go out.”
While there are many possibilities for the Red Wings right winger, going back to the Panthers isn’t looking like an option. Indeed, the team has been on a roll in the current season too, and they are already stacked up, according to Friedman. It’s not like they won’t want a player like Tarasenko, but they also need to have a room for him to settle in.
Friedman gave his final stance on the future of the Red Wings right winger, stating, “I think it’s just safe to say there’s something going on there. I think there’s an understanding that this has been a harder fit than everybody expected, and, uh, I’ve just been told by a couple of different places, like, don’t be surprised if something happens here because it’s a lot of good vibes with the Red Wings, but not in this particular case.”
Again, it’s all predictions that fans can make right now. Nothing is confirmed, but there’s stuff out there that is never visible to the common eyes of the public but always goes on behind the scenes. It’s a similar situation with Tarasenko, and anything can happen if the Russian NHL star doesn’t get his form back, as there’s not much time left. But did his short stint with the Panthers look this rocky back then?
His form when he wasn’t a part of the Detroit Red Wings
Vladimir Tarasenko started his 2023-24 season with the Ottawa Senators on a one-year, $5 million contract. However, with the Senators struggling to get to the playoffs that year, they decided to let go of the Russian NHL star and get themselves two draft picks for future prospects. And heading to the Florida Panthers wasn’t that of a bad thing for him.
Tarasenko just played 19 regular seasons with the Panthers and scored six goals, eight assists, and fourteen points. However, he also played the 24 playoff matches, where he secured five goals, four assists, and nine points. His contribution was major to the team, as he spent a significant amount of time on the ice making aggressive plays; eventually, the Panthers defeated the favorite Edmonton Oilers in the finals.
However, his historic stint with the Panthers remained short, as the team wasn’t able to sign him, letting him go to the Detroit Red Wings. Why so? Well, there were salary cap constraints, and the Red Wings did offer a lucrative contract to the Russian NHL star. Now, with the future of the Red Wings looking a bit unstable, only time will tell about the future of Tarasenko and what color sweater he will be wearing.
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