UFA Vladimir Tarasenko's Future In Minnesota Coming Into Focus

Minnesota Wild forward Vladimir Tarasenko

14-year NHL veteran Vladimir Tarasenko had a redemption season with the Minnesota Wild in 2025-26. After looking like he might be done as a top-notch scorer, with an 11-goal year in Detroit last season, the Wild took a chance and acquired Tarasenko from the Red Wings last June. It paid off handsomely. A six-time 30-goal scorer in his younger days, the Russian forward registered 23 goals this season.

In addition, he played a mentor role for his young linemate, Russian rookie Danila Yurov.

Now, as a pending unrestricted free agent, what does the future hold for Tarasenko in Minnesota?

As Joe Smith writes in The Athletic, "Tarasenko showed the Wild and the NHL as a whole that he has a lot of hockey left as he heads into unrestricted free agency this summer."

He says he would love to return. But coming off a $4.75M cap hit the last two seasons, what kind of deal is he looking for? That's where things could get complicated, says Smith.

(The Wild) have about $15 million in cap space and have other free agents more on the front burner, specifically Mats Zuccarello and Michael McCarron.
The Wild certainly liked Tarasenko, though the price would have to be right — and certainly not at the $4.75 million average annual value he carried on his expiring two-year deal.

The other under-the-radar element that could complicate things is that Paul Theofanous is his agent—yes, that's the same Paul Theofanous who "squeezed" a $17 million AAV deal out of the Wild for Kirill Kaprizov last summer, as Smith said.

"It’s unlikely they will play ball with him again in this situation."

By 'playing ball', he means they won't let the agent squeeze them dry again.