Tarasenko Trade Rumor Good News For Red Wings
Vladimir Tarasenko put up 14 points in 19 games last season after the Florida Panthers acquired him before last season’s trade deadline. The Russian forward added five more goals in the post season when the Panthers won the Stanley Cup.
That explains why Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman has reported the Panthers are interested in acquiring him from Detroit.
This season, Tarasenko shows 22 points in 53 games. He’s on pace for 11 goals.
That explains why the Red Wings may indeed attempt to move him before the trade deadline.
The Tarasenko signing hasn’t worked out for the Red Wings. For whatever reason, he hasn’t been a good fit. He’s been slightly more dangerous since Todd McLellan took over from Derek Lalonde. However, his goal last Saturday against Tampa Bay was his first in 11 games.
The worst aspect of the Tarasenko situation is that he has one more season remaining after this one with a $4.75 million cap space.
The fact the Panthers, and other teams, have been linked to a Tarasenko trade rumor is good news.
Detroit Can Use Cap Space
If the Red Wings have an opportunity to move this contract, they should jump at it, even if they have’s to retain a small amount of salary.
If they move Tarasenko, they would have enough cap space to perhaps rent a scorer on an expiring contract.
Given his minimal production this season, it won’t be easy to move his salary. But there may be enough teams looking for offense to find a suitor. What the Red Wings hope is a GM will zoom in on Tarasenko’s six 30-plus goal seasons — not his seven-goal output this season.
The NHL and its Players Association reached a recent agreement that establishes healthy increases in the salary cap over the next three seasons. The increases: $7.5 million in 2025-26; $8.5 million in the 2026-27 season and $9.5 million in the 2027-28 season.
Add $4.75 million to Detroit’s cap for next season, in addition to the announced increase, it would puts Detroit in a favorable cap position for next summer.
