- Vladimir Tarasenko and agent Dan Milstein parted ways late in the summer
- The unsigned winger led all remaining UFAs with 23 goals last season
- Read below for how Brad Marchand’s injury ties into Florida’s interest
Vladimir Tarasenko is still looking for a team, and right now he might not have anyone making the calls for him.
TSN’s Pierre LeBrun reported Thursday that Tarasenko and agent Dan Milstein parted ways late in the summer. LeBrun isn’t sure the 34-year-old winger has representation at the moment, and pointed out that Tarasenko has gone through several agents over the last four to five years.
That’s a strange spot for the best goal-scorer left on the market. Tarasenko had 23 goals and 47 points in 75 games with the Wild last season, the most goals of any UFA still unsigned. He’s been skating in Florida while he waits, alongside fellow free agent Patrik Laine.
Florida keeps coming up as the fit. Elliotte Friedman said on the 32 Thoughts podcast that the Panthers are interested in Tarasenko if Brad Marchand ends up missing an extended stretch.
Marchand went down Tuesday in Los Angeles after crashing awkwardly into the post and grabbing his left knee. It was only his second game back from offseason sports hernia surgery. Here’s the injury video:
The early word is better than feared. LeBrun said Thursday on TSN’s Early Trading that Marchand’s timeline is weeks, not months. A shorter absence makes a Tarasenko signing less likely, the same way it played out in September when Friedman said a longer Marchand recovery might have landed Tarasenko in Florida.
Money is the other problem. The Panthers are also without Aleksander Barkov for six to eight weeks, and with Barkov on long-term injured reserve, there isn’t real room to spend. Florida would probably have to move salary to fit him in, even on a modest deal.
Tarasenko knows the room. Florida grabbed him from Ottawa at the 2024 trade deadline, and he put up six goals and 14 points in 19 games before adding five goals and nine points in 24 playoff games on the way to the franchise’s first Stanley Cup.
His one season in Detroit after that went sideways with 11 goals in 80 games. Minnesota got a lot more out of him, and he now sits at 327 goals and 709 points in 906 career NHL games.
A call from Sunrise would probably be welcome. First, Tarasenko might need someone to pick up the phone for him.
