The Hockey News’s Connor Eargood posted an article which discusses 3 still-unrestricted-free-agent forwards which could help the Red Wings address their scoring issues, including Vladimir Tarasenko, Jack Roslovic and Tyler Johnson. Here’s what Eargood has to say about the #1 choice, Tarasenko:
Fresh off a Stanley Cup win with the Florida Panthers, Vladimir Tarasenko is still on the market as a free agent. Even at 32, he could bring scoring punch with his big shot and nifty stickhandling.
At his age, there’s no telling if Tarasenko can match his totals season to season, but last year, he put up 55 points in 76 regular season games with Ottawa and Florida. In the postseason, he scored nine points in the Panthers’ playoff run. He isn’t the same 35 to 40 goal scorer he was at his prime, but Tarasenko still shoots well, and this Detroit could use another capable shooter in the middle six to diversify its options.
Tarasenko could play on the second line, but his best usage would be as a shooter on the third line alongside a potential rerun of the Andrew Copp and Michael Rasmussen duo. Whereas Christian Fischer made that third line a hard, checking unit, Tarasenko could give it some well-rounded offense through his shot. And he wouldn’t be a complete aberration to that line’s heavy play, as his game has picked up more physicality as he has aged. That was part of why he could be so effective down the lineup with the Panthers, where he became less of an offensive focal point and more so offensive depth. The Red Wings don’t have Florida-level talent around him, but a similar third line role could net a similar source of scoring.
Right now, AFP Analytics projects Tarasenko to make $4,171,200 for two seasons on his next contract. Detroit probably can’t afford anything close to that while still signing its RFAs, though a trade — particularly of a goalie — might free up enough cap space.
Continued; I’d love to see the Wings add Tarsenko, but the rumor mill suggests that he’s interested in a reunion with the Panthers. The most intriguing candidate might be Tyler Johnson, who could fill the skates of David Perron.
