The Detroit Red Wings made a significant move on Wednesday, signing winger Vladimir Tarasenko to a two-year contract worth $9.5 million. Tarasenko, 32, joins Detroit after a successful stint with the Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers, becoming the sixth player from their Game 7 lineup to depart in free agency.
Tarasenko’s contract will see him count $4.75 million against the salary cap through the 2025-26 season. It includes a no-trade clause in the first year and limited protection in the second.
His arrival strengthens the Red Wings alongside fellow three-time Cup champion Patrick Kane, who recently re-signed for $4 million plus incentives. Detroit also completed a trade, sending forward Robby Fabbri and a conditional 2025 fourth-round pick to Anaheim for promising goaltending prospect Gage Alexander.
During his tenure with the Panthers, Tarasenko played a pivotal role, contributing five goals and four assists in their first-ever franchise title win in 2024.
Elsewhere in the league, several key players departed from the Panthers due to salary cap constraints, including Brandon Montour to Seattle, Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Anthony Stolarz to Toronto, and Ryan Lomberg and Kevin Stenlund to other teams.
In other league news on Wednesday, Philadelphia re-signed restricted free agent forward Bobby Brink to a two-year, $3 million deal, while Columbus bolstered their defense with the addition of veteran Jack Johnson for the upcoming season at $775,000.
Edmonton, aiming to emulate Florida’s success after falling short in the Stanley Cup final, retained core players and added depth, emphasizing continuity for the upcoming season.
