Panthers' Offer To UFA Tarasenko Revealed In Major Update

The rumors connecting unrestricted free agent Vladimir Tarasenko and the Florida Panthers continue to make the rounds. Now, insider Pierre LeBrun has dropped some intriguing updates on the unsigned Russian forward's situation.

Tarasenko continues to work out in South Florida, and we know he had a nice little run with them down the stretch in 2024, helping the Cats to a Stanley Cup title. 

According to LeBrun, speaking on RDS NHL Round-Up, the Panthers did indeed make the six-time 30-goal scorer an offer this past summer, but Tarasenko thought he could do better, and passed on it. (The following is a translation from French):

According to my information, at the beginning of July, Tarasenko received an offer from the Florida Panthers... 

(But they) couldn't offer him much because of their salary cap situation. I think it was an offer of around $850,000... But at the beginning of July, Tarasenko thought he could do better with another team (as free agency proceeded). And here we are in October and he's still not signed.

One reason for that could be from another breaking piece of news that LeBrun dropped on the Tarasenko front—the player no longer has an agent. 

UFA winger Vladimir Tarasenko and agent Dan Milstein parted aways late summer. Not sure Tarasenko, who has had several agents in last 4-5 years, has representation at the moment. His 23 goals last season are tops among current UFAs still left on market. He's skating in Florida with likes of Laine and Nikishin...

— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) October 8, 2026

According to my information... Tarasenko and his agent Dan Milstein are no longer together. There was a separation between the agent and the player at the end of the summer. And currently, I have no confirmation that Tarasenko has found a new agent. 

LeBrun doesn't feel that the Panthers will circle back on him at this point, despite the recent Brad Marchand and Sasha Barkov injuries. "I'm not saying it couldn't happen, but I don't think so."

The 34-year-old forward notched 23 goals last season with the Minnesota Wild, playing on the last season of a two-year, $4.75M cap hit that the Detroit Red Wings signed him to in 2024. 

Wherever he might land at some point this season, it's safe to say he'll be earning a fraction of that salary.