The Tarasenko Time Machine Is Exactly What the Wild Need Right Now

Future considerations and a one-year, $5 million contract. That’s all it took to get former six-time 30-goal scorer and Minnesota Wild killer Vladimir Tarasenko from the Detroit Red Wings in the offseason. 

There was some optimism among pundits and management that, despite his goal totals dwindling and his time on ice declining over the past few years, he could experience a resurgence in Minnesota.

Yet through the first 22 games, Tarsenko had only 2 goals and 10 points while missing time due to injury. All signs indicated that he might be over the hill. I even wrote that he was so bad I'd consider scratching him. He provided nothing positive to this team. 

Well, if Vlad reads Hockey Wilderness, then I’m sorry. 

Maybe Bill Guerin had a heart-to-heart with Tarasenko, a la Billy Beane and David Justice in Moneyball. However it happened, something has sparked Tarasenko. 

I didn’t even know he still had this in him:

The makeshift second line of Yakov Trenin, rookie Danila Yurov, and Tarasenko has been tremendous in the face of Minnesota’s litany of injuries. 

That line would have given me nightmares at the start of the season. Since they’ve been assembled, they’ve been the Wild’s best line. Now, adding Quinn Hughes and his 30 minutes a night on the back end might also have something to do with that, but either way, it’s been impressive.

Over the past seven games, Tarasenko has been the most impactful forward outside of Matt Boldy, Kirill Kaprizov, and Joel Eriksson Ek. He’s stepped up in the absence of top-six forwards like Marcus Johansson and Mats Zuccarello. Tarasenko’s recent play has been a massive boon for a Wild team in need of depth.

Tarasenko will likely lose his spot on the top power play when Zuccarello returns, but he’s been productive with the man advantage. He’s got only a single goal, but six assists are good enough for fourth on the team in terms of power-play points. Not too shabby. Overall, he’s on pace for nearly 50 points and 18 goals, both of which would be better than his season in Detroit last year, where he had just 11 goals and 33 points.

Tarsenko’s ability to serve as a mentor and leader to Yurov, Minnesota’s young Russian center, is another huge boost for the Wild. After trading Marco Rossi to Vancouver in the Quinn Hughes deal, the Wild will have to lean on the 21-year-old Russian to carry a load for their center depth.

“I feel like you need some time when you come to the league to adjust,” Tarasenko said regarding Yurov. “And I mean, everybody tried to help him, he is helping himself, and I feel like he’s stopped being scared to make a mistake and play confident hockey, play a very solid 200-foot game. You know, not only offense, but he’s very good in the defensive zone, which makes our job easier, and it’s fun to play with him.”

If Tarsenko can help elevate Yurov’s game, that makes the Wild all the more dangerous.

While Tarasenko had a slow start to the season, lately he’s been skating as well as he has all season, and it’s showing on the scoresheet. 

I’m not saying he’ll be a point-per-game player from here on out. It would be cool if he did, but if this is the version of Tarsenko the Wild get for the rest of the season, it will go a long way toward helping this team truly contend.

All stats and data via Evolving Hockey, HockeyDB, Moneypuck, and Natural Stat Trick unless otherwise noted.