This morning, 97.1 the Ticket’s Will Burchfield discusses free agent signing Vladimir Tarasenko’s “fit” with the Red Wings (after Tarasenko spoke with the media yesterday afternoon), noting that Tarasenko grew up a fan of the Russian 5:
“No offense to other teams,” he said, “but growing up in Russia, a lot of people followed Detroit because of the Russian Five. When I had my first PlayStation, I was playing for Detroit with my friends. This was a team, in my neighborhood, that we grew up talking about. It’s pretty exciting to join the team and wear the jersey and try to help the team win.”
Tarasenko was a tot when the Russian Five took the NHL by storm. He’s 32 now and closer to the end of his career than the start. He just captured his second Cup and is closing in on 300 goals; he still wants more of both. The latter should come easily to him in his first season with the Red Wings, who gave Tarasenko a two-year, $9.5 million deal that lends his life some stability after he played for four teams the past two seasons. The former is no sure thing these days in Detroit.
The Red Wings are still playing the long game under Steve Yzerman, adding vets to the roster while waiting for a core on the come. They’re trying to get better without going for broke, an especially difficult task in the deep and talented Atlantic Division. The Wings came closer to the playoffs last season than they have in eight years with 91 points, and it will likely take more than that next season to end the drought.
“I feel like last year was very close, and I’m not a person who just comes in and hangs out and enjoys my time and doesn’t try to win,” Tarasenko said. “I really like winning. We just won the second Cup, but I will do everything I can to help the organization take the next step, help the guys with my experience and just do my best to be able to make the playoffs. That’s the reason I came, because I like the way the team played and I believe this team can make the playoffs and do some special things.”
