Wild Acquire Tarasenko, Gain Salary Cap Flexibility

The Minnesota Wild have acquired veteran winger and two-time Stanley Cup champion Vladimir Tarasenko, 33, from the Detroit Red Wings in exchange for future considerations. Tarasenko is entering the final year of a two-year, $9.5 million contract with a $4.75 million cap hit after a disappointing 2023-24 season in Detroit, where he tallied 11 goals and 33 points in 80 games. Over his career, Tarasenko has scored 304 goals and 662 points in 831 NHL games, including six 30-goal seasons, making him a potential offensive boost for the Wild. The trade leaves Minnesota with about $13 million in salary cap space ahead of free agency, shifting their focus to acquiring a center. For Detroit, the move clears salary and increases cap flexibility. Tarasenko, who won Stanley Cups with St. Louis in 2019 and Florida in 2024, is expected to play in the Wild's top-six forward group.