The Minnesota Wild have very little cap space as they look to improve their team for a run in 2026-27. The Wild recently re-signed Michael McCarron to a six-year deal.
While McCarron is coming back, another free agent seems to be ready to hit the open market, according to Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet.
Vladimir Tarasenko is expected to hit the open market when free agency opens on July 1. The 34-year-old just completed a two-year deal he initially signed with the Detroit Red Wings, but was traded last offseason to the Wild. Meanwhile, he has also changed agents in the process.
Tarasenko was represented by both Pat Brisson of CAA and Paul Theofanous of TMI as part of an agreement between Theofanous and CAA. Now, he will be presented by Dan Milsten of Gold Star Hockey. Milstein also represents Nikita Kucherov, Andrei Vasilevskiy, and Mikhail Sergachev. Milstein has players who are currently on 25 of the other 31 NHL teams.
Tarasenko is coming off a rebound year with the Wild. He found the back of the net 23 times, which was the most since scoring 34 goals for the St. Louis Blues in 2021-22. He also added 24 helpers, the most since 2023-24 with the Ottawa Senators. His 47 points were the most since 2021-22 as well, when he scored 82 points in 75 games. While Tarasenko is no longer the level of player that he was with the Blues when he was a Stanley Cup Champion and the EA Sports NHL cover athlete, he is still a valuable member of a franchise.
Free agency opens on July 1 at 12 p.m. ET, and Tarasenko will likely be someone who will get plenty of interest.
The post NHL rumors: Wild’s Vladimir Tarasenko headed to open market after agent change appeared first on ClutchPoints.
