Two Contenders Linked To Unsigned Vladimir Tarasenko
Vladimir Tarasenko remains a free agent after posting 23 goals and 47 points in 75 games with the Minnesota Wild last season, and both the Edmonton Oilers and Ottawa Senators have been repeatedly linked to him as the market drags into August.
Why Edmonton Makes Sense
The Oilers connection goes back to a report from Elliotte Friedman shortly after free agency opened.
"Wonder if the Oilers look at Vladimir Tarasenko," Friedman wrote. "Heard a few teams looked at him as things calmed down after free agency day one."
Edmonton hasn't added much to its forward group this offseason and is still searching for middle-six scoring depth, a role Tarasenko has filled reliably for years. Per PuckPedia, the Oilers currently sit with just under $5 million in cap space, giving them room to work with even after their other offseason business.
Per Elliotte Friedman: The Oilers could be a team to watch for Vladimir Tarasenko. Friedman says he wonders if Edmonton will take a look at Tarasenko, adding that several teams checked in on the veteran winger after things settled down following Day 1 of free agency. 👀 pic.twitter.com/esggAjRjNL
— Daily Faceoff (@DailyFaceoff) July 4, 2026
The Oilers have also shown a pattern of patience in these situations. Last summer, Edmonton waited out the market before signing Jack Roslovic in the middle of opening night, landing a proven forward on a team-friendly deal once other suitors backed off. There's a real chance Tarasenko becomes this year's version of that same play.
Why Ottawa Makes Sense
Ottawa traded captain Brady Tkachuk to Florida in June and replaced him with William Eklund, a playmaker rather than a true finisher, which is the kind of sniper hole Tarasenko could fill.
The Senators have just over $4 million in cap space, enough room for a one-year deal near Tarasenko's previous $4.75 million cap hit. The complication is the roster itself.
Ottawa has 23 active contracts already on the books, the maximum allowed, meaning GM Steve Staios would need to move a body out before Tarasenko could come in.
That turns a fairly simple signing into a two-step process, which helps explain why nothing has closed yet despite what looks like an obvious fit.
Where This Is Headed
Tarasenko changed representation earlier this summer, and his new camp received league permission to begin negotiating early, yet he remains unsigned with training camp still weeks away.
There's little urgency on either side. A one-year deal benefits both parties, giving Tarasenko a chance to chase a Cup and rebuild his value ahead of next summer's market, while either Edmonton or Ottawa would land a proven 20-goal scorer without any long-term commitment.
