Where are the Detroit Red Wings currently? Not in a very secure position, they’re in a wild card position, but only by a hair’s breadth. There are several other teams who could very well pip them to the spot after the NHL resumes after the 4 Nations Face-Off. In order to lock down their position, the Red Wings will have to play it smart. And that could mean trading certain players.

One of those players is Vladimir Tarasenko, who has been unable to re-attain his greatest form. Since becoming a Stanley Cup champion with the Florida Panthers last season, the Russian NHL player who signed a two-year, $9.5 million contract in July 2024 hasn’t been the person he was before the season.

Discussing Tarasenko’s issues, Elliotte Friedman shared his thoughts on the 32 Thoughts Podcast. “It’s just, if you look at how they’ve gone, he’s sort of the one guy that has been the odd fit,” he said. And you know he has a no-trade clause, so ultimately he has control, but I think, you know, I was talking to some people who see the Red Wings a bit more than I do, and they weren’t surprised to hear that in the sense that, you know, as the team’s gotten better and some players have started to play better, it has still been a bit of a square peg in a round hole for Tarasenko.”

But is a return to the Panthers in the cards? Friedman weighed in, saying, “I got to think that, you know, Florida doesn’t have a lot of flexibility; they don’t have a lot to deal with, and they don’t have a lot of cap room, but they know the player. You know, that was actually the first thing I thought of when I got off the air. I bet in particular Tarasenko would probably love to go back there too. But I just don’t know where this is going to go out.”

Friedman gave his final stance on the future of the Red Wings right winger, stating, “I think it’s just safe to say there’s something going on there. I think there’s an understanding that this has been a harder fit than everybody expected, and, uh, I’ve just been told by a couple of different places, like, don’t be surprised if something happens here because it’s a lot of good vibes with the Red Wings, but not in this particular case.” The bottom line is that if the Russian star doesn’t regain his form soon, he could very well be leaving Michigan.

Tarasenko’s form before joining the Detroit Red Wings

Many reports have stated that Tarasenko has not been having a good time with the Red Wings; he simply has not looked a good fit within the team. Indeed, something isn’t clicking with the #11 after he came from Florida off the back of a short but memorable stint. The proof? Let’s take a look at the Russian star’s stats with the Red Wings.

He has played 53 games with them and has only scored 7 goals and 15 assists, accumulating a meager 22 points. Surely, if you’re an avid NHL fan, you might be aware that a player of his talent is capable of more than those numbers.

However, his Cup-winning season with the Panthers paints an entirely different picture of the player. In just 19 regular season games played for the Panthers, Tarasenko recorded fourteen points, six goals, and eight assists. Furthermore, he participated in all 24 playoff games and finished with nine points, five goals, and four assists.

He was a key part of the Panthers’ playoff success, as he skated with passion and aggression, helping them beat the Edmonton Oilers, who were the overwhelming favorites to win it all.

Unfortunately, the Panthers were unable to sign him; thus, the Detroit Red Wings were able to step in and recruit his services. But it hasn’t quite worked out the way either party would have hoped for. The Red Wings may soon trade him, though the Panthers seem unlikely to bring him back due to cap constraints. And since the Red Wings’ playoff future is uncertain, it may be more possible than ever that they are likely to move Tarasenko out.