Red Wings seem to have a plan for Vladimir Tarasenko
DETROIT – Should the Detroit Red Wings give Vladimir Tarasenko another opportunity after his disappointing season?
The Red Wings signed Vladimir Tarasenko last summer to a two-year, $9.5 million deal hoping he would compensate for some of the offense they lost through free agency and trades. But the six-time 30-goal scorer struggled from the start and experienced his worst season, with only 11 goals and 33 points in 80 games.
It has prompted speculation of whether the Red Wings will buy out the final year of his contract.
General manager Steve Yzerman, however, sounded he’s planning on having Tarasenko, 33, on the roster next season and expecting him to bounce back.
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“I think his play was better probably than his production, what we’d expect from him as a goal-scorer,” Yzerman said this week in his season-ending address to the media. “I would say he was frustrated not being able to produce and I think that affected his attitude and affected his play. But overall, you try to reassure him that you’re doing a lot of good things out there and don’t let the missed chances or the inability to score affect your play.
“I’m hopeful and expecting him to give us more than he did this year because I know we can.”
If the Red Wings bought out the final year of Tarasenko’s contract ($4.75 million), it would cost them $1.583 million against the cap in each of the next two seasons.
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Cap space is not an issue, though. The Red Winge have roughly $21 million in cap space with no big-money deals due for their own free agents, unlike last year when they had to sign Moritz Seider and Lucas Raymond. Patrick Kane might be their only unrestricted free agent they’re interested in bringing back. Restricted free agents Jonatan Berggren, Elmer Soderblom and Albert Johansson won’t cost a lot to re-sign.
The buyout period begins either June 15 or 48 hours after the Stanley Cup Final concludes, whichever comes later.