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Wild’s Vladimir Tarasenko Makes Admission on Red Wings Exit

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Antonio Losada | Last updated Jul 5, 2025 8:44 AM ET

The Detroit Red Wings made a surprising signing last offseason when they acquired forward Vladimir Tarasenko, inking him to a two-year contract.

Tarasenko played for both the Ottawa Senators and the Florida Panthers in 2023-24, recording 55 points in 76 games in both stints combined.

Already in Detroit, the Russian winger struggled mightily to find that pace or even get remotely close to it, finishing the 2024-25 regular season with a meager 33 points in 80 games, his worst production in any season in which he played more than 38 games.

That low production prompted Detroit to trade him to the Minnesota Wild on June 30, on the verge of the start of free agency.

We have acquired right wing Vladimir Tarasenko from Detroit in exchange for future considerations. pic.twitter.com/YdyexgYu01
— Minnesota Wild (@mnwild) June 30, 2025

On a conference call with reporters on Tuesday, Tarasenko admitted to initiating the talks for a trade and a move out of Detroit himself, saying the time had come for a change.

“Yeah, we wanted a change,” Tarasenko said. “The trade happened. I don’t even know what else to say. Probably to most questions about the past, I’ll say that the past is behind us.”

Explaining his drop in production, Tarasenko cited the effect of moving between four teams over two years, including a Stanley Cup-winning season with Florida in 2024, making his campaign longer than usual, lasting into late June.

“I have a lot of time this summer,” Tarasenko said. “I think for the first time in my career, I have so much time to prepare for the season. It is possible to rest not only physically but also mentally.”

Tarasenko has 662 career points in 831 games and is now aiming to bounce back in Minnesota with a full offseason to recover and prepare. Now with the Wild, the 33-year-old sees a chance to reset as he enters his final year under contract.

“I will come and try to help the team in any way possible,” Tarasenko said. “I feel like every year I have something to prove.”

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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