The Detroit Red Wings have officially announced that they have reached a deal to sign a second sensationally young player for a two-year contract.
Vladimir Tarasenko, a right-winger, has agreed to a two-year deal at an average of $4.75 million with the Detroit Red Wings. In 76 games for the Florida Panthers, the defending Stanley Cup champion Tarasenko not only scored 23 goals but also contributed 32 assists, helping the team win the Stanley Cup for the first time ever.
With 110 points against the Red Wings’ 91, the Panthers, who play in the Atlantic Division with them, emerged victorious. In 2019, Tarasenko and the St. Louis Blues shared a Stanley Cup victory. So, after essentially standing pat to start free agency, where does the Red Wings stand now that Tarasenko has been acquired? Remember that Moritz Seider and Lucas Raymond, two restricted free agents, must also sign new contracts with the Red Wings.
The Red Wings acquired Tarasenko on the same day that they sold goalie Gage Alexander to the Anaheim Ducks in exchange for Robby Fabbri and a conditional fourth-round draft selection. Twenty-two is Alexander’s age. In order to accommodate Tarasenko, the Fabbri deal gave up $4 million in salary cap space. With well over $20 million in salary cap room available, the Red Wings can now sign Seider, Raymond, and any other players Yzerman might have in mind.
During the 2023 NHL trade deadline, Tarasenko was moved by the Ottawa Senators to the Panthers in return for a 2025 third round selection and a 2024 conditional fourth round pick. In addition to providing scoring support, Tarasenko may serve as a mentor to assist the Red Wings in adjusting to “playoff-style hockey.” During the team’s Stanley Cup run, Tarasenko participated in 24 games and contributed four assists. Tarasenko would be among the top five Red Wings players in terms of points scored in 2023–2024.
Steve Yzerman, general manager, seems enthusiastic about the acquisition of Tarasenko. “He’s a left-handed winger with a larger frame who plays a slightly different style than our wingers, such as Lucas Raymond, Patrick Kane, and Alex DeBrincat,” Yzerman remarked. “He’ll complete the group of the top six and top nine. The player who scores straight ahead gets to the net. It seems like a pretty nice addition to us. The re-signing of Patrick Kane and the arrival of Tarasenko throughout the summer have both improved the right side of the Red Wings’ forward group’s scoring.
Furthermore, a young Red Wing who can play both left and right wing is named Jonatan Berggren. During the 2023–24 season, Berggren scored 26 goals and contributed 36 assists in 53 games for the Grand Rapids Griffins and 12 games for the Red Wings. Along with Raymond and Seider, Berggren was one of four players that received qualifying offers from the Red Wings. In the event that those players sign offer sheets with other teams, these offers grant the club making them the right of first refusal or compensation via draft pick.
“We had some interest in one that we thought might be a fit,” Yzerman stated before to the Red Wings development camp. We made the hasty decision that a significant amount of surgery would be required to attempt to fix it. Who then was this unidentified player? Steven Stamkos is the clear choice for the move he was referring to. Yzerman was general manager of the Tampa Bay Lighting for the majority of Stamkos’ playing career. The 34-year-old agreed to a $32 million, four-year contract with the Nashville Predators.
As I’ve said before, the Red Wings in 2024–2025 will look completely different. Vladimir Tarasenko’s signing and the impending contract extensions of Lucas Raymond and Moritz Seider will allow the team to improve on their 2023–24 campaign, which ended with their elimination from postseason contention on the final day of play. Alex DeBrincat playing a full season might help the Red Wings return to the Stanley Cup playoffs.
