After winning the Stanley Cup with the Florida Panthers, veteran forward Vladimir Tarasenko is taking his talents up north. The free agent signed a two-year contract with an AAV of $4.75M with the Detroit Red Wings on Wednesday.
Tarasenko had previously been linked to the Pittsburgh Penguins, but had clearly decided to reunite with Patrick Kane as the two star forwards played together in New York and are now together again in Detroit.
Tarasenko hoisted the Cup with the Florida Panthers a just over a week ago and is coming off an eight-year contract that paid him $7.5 million per season. While he was traded from the Ottawa Senators to the champions ahead of the trade deadline, he now lands in Hockey Town with little term. He still has some good hockey left in him as he’s shown with his five goals and four assists over 22 playoff games during Florida’s memorable run.
Selected 16th overall in the 2010 NHL Draft by St. Louis,Tarasenko has recorded 293 goals and 336 assists over 751 career games with the Blues, New York Rangers , Senators and Panthers.
What will he do with the Red Wings, who needs to take part in the postseason next spring.