Vladimir Tarasenko Struggles with Minnesota Wild, Scoring Only Twice in First 18 Games

Two-time Stanley Cup-winning forward Vladimir Tarasenko is struggling with the Minnesota Wild, having scored only twice in his first 18 games since being traded by the Red Wings on June 30. This move followed a disappointing 2024-25 season in Detroit, where he managed just 11 goals and 22 assists in 80 games during his sole campaign with the team. Tarasenko was signed by the Red Wings in 2024, just weeks after helping the Florida Panthers win the Stanley Cup, with expectations to provide timely offense. He scored his first career NHL goal against the Red Wings in January 2013 as a member of the St. Louis Blues and is eligible to become an unrestricted free agent in the upcoming offseason.