Detroit Red Wings Considering To Part Ways With Stanley Cup Champion Top Six Forward
The Detroit Red Wings are apparently considering parting ways with their Stanley Cup champion and top-six forward Vladimir Tarasenko, per Elliotte Friedman.
In Detroit, fans have been waiting a long time to see their team get back into the playoff landscape. In fact, the Red Wings are now holding on to the Eastern Conference's second wild card spot, only one point behind the Ottawa Senators and one ahead of the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Only a few months after firing Derek Lalonde from the head coaching position, Steve Yzerman and his team are on their way to reaching the playoffs for the first time since 2016.
With the trade deadline looming, fans were eager to see what Yzerman planned to do to help his team win in the crucial last stretch of the season, and it appears he made a surprising player available on the trade block: Vladimir Tarasenko.
The 32-year-old veteran has scored only 22 points in 53 games so far this year. While the team is performing much better, Tarasenko hasn't been able to do the same, and parting ways with him and his $4.75M AAV contract, with another year left on it, seems like a great course of action for General Manager Yzerman.
Sportsnet's insider Elliotte Friedman talked about it in an intermission report on Saturday night:
Vladimir Tarasenko is in the first year of two in Detroit, and he's got a no-trade clause, and there's some noise around him.
The Red Wings are much better, players are playing better, but he struggles to fit into the lineup.
I know there's been some conversation around him, and we will see how it all develops."
Keeping him around for the playoffs would also make sense, considering that the Russian forward has won two Stanley Cups: one with the St. Louis Blues in 2019 and one last season with the Florida Panthers.
However, if he gets an offer he can't refuse, sending Tarasenko and his salary to another team could be an interesting decision.
