By Tom Banks | Originally posted on House of Hockey | May 28, 2025

The Detroit Red Wings took a big swing last offseason by signing veteran winger and two-time Stanley Cup champion Vladimir Tarasenko in free agency. The goal was clear: make a serious push for the playoffs and bring championship experience to a young and developing roster.

But after falling short of postseason contention once again, it appears the union between Tarasenko and Detroit may be short-lived.

According to NHL insider Frank Seravalli, Tarasenko may be looking for a way out of Detroit after just one season, citing dissatisfaction with his role and the team’s overall direction. While no official trade request has been made public, the noise around Tarasenko’s future is growing louder as the offseason begins.

Tarasenko, 33, signed a two-year deal with the Red Wings last summer after a brief stint with the Florida Panthers. Seen as a key addition to bolster Detroit’s top-six forward group, he was expected to bring scoring depth and veteran leadership to a club on the rise.

While he delivered a solid, if unspectacular, season statistically—registering 21 goals and 46 points in 73 games—Tarasenko reportedly felt underutilized and miscast in head coach Derek Lalonde’s system.

“He came in hoping to be part of a competitive playoff team,” Seravalli said. “But the team underperformed, and he wasn’t thrilled with the role he ended up playing. It wouldn’t be a surprise if both sides explore options this summer.”

The Red Wings showed signs of progress throughout the 2024–25 season, but consistency remained elusive. A lack of depth scoring and defensive lapses plagued the team, leaving them outside the playoff picture for the ninth consecutive season. General manager Steve Yzerman now faces another pivotal summer, and Tarasenko’s status will be one of the key storylines to monitor.

Potential suitors for Tarasenko could include contending teams looking for a proven scorer with playoff pedigree—qualities he demonstrated in St. Louis during their 2019 Stanley Cup run. The remaining year on his contract, which carries a reasonable \$4.75 million cap hit, makes him an appealing target for teams in win-now mode.

From Detroit’s perspective, moving Tarasenko could free up cap space and open a top-six spot for one of their younger forwards. With prospects like Marco Kasper and Carter Mazur pushing for full-time roles, Yzerman may see this as an opportunity to accelerate the team’s youth movement.

While nothing is imminent, the writing may be on the wall for Tarasenko’s future in Detroit. After a year that failed to meet expectations for both player and team, a parting of ways could be mutually beneficial.