It doesn’t appear likely that the New York Rangers are going to be bringing Vladimir Tarasenko back after their first round exit. Although the team wants to win now, eventually they are going to have to give some of their younger forwards a chance. There is even a higher percent chance Patrick Kane returns over Tarasenko, so we’re going to look at three destinations where the Russian winger can sign in free agency.
New York Islanders
As long as Lou Lamoriello is the general manager, you can expect the New York Islanders to look to add veterans. That’s always been his way, but this time it makes sense. The Islanders had a hard time putting the puck in the back of the net and need more scoring. One of the most established scorers in free agency is Tarasenko, and it works out that he’s a winger as the team is filled to the brim with centers.
There is uncertainty surrounding Zach Parise and Pierre Engvall as they could both become UFAs. Along with those two, Josh Bailey has been talked about heavily in regards to being moved or bought out for the final year of his contract. The Islanders are going to need help and Tarasenko will not only fit their budget and have a good term, he will also be the help that Brock Nelson requires on his wing.
Pittsburgh Penguins
There is the feeling that the Pittsburgh Penguins aren’t done until their core is gone. That means they have a few years left to stay competitive. As new management is coming in this offseason, some big changes are expected. The first being upgrading the wing where a hole will be opened up with Jason Zucker hitting free agency.
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Daily Faceoff projects Tarasenko to get $5 million AAV for three years which couldn’t line up better for the timeline in Pittsburgh. Mikael Granlund did not impress upon his arrival in Pittsburgh and there’s good reason to believe that he will either be on the third line or off the team. That means a top-six wing is open and will likely be addressed in free agency. The team has a good amount of cap space to work with.
Florida Panthers
There are going to be a couple of bigger additions to the Florida Panthers this offseason as cap space is opening up for them and they require some upgrades in multiple areas. One of those areas is the wing in the top-six. The Panthers have spread out the wealth on their run which means some players punching above their weight class. Nick Cousins being one of them.
Despite a slightly more defensive approach this season, Tarasenko could add a lot to this team. He can pass and shoot and they don’t necessarily need penalty killers. Tarasenko would be a short-term commitment that would add even more scoring and help up front, making the Panthers even more dangerous than they already are.
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