I've been saying the Edmonton Oilers should bring in Vladimir Tarasenko for a long time. Five years ago, he was a player on the recovery path following significant shoulder surgery, and today he's one on the outer edge of his prime. At 34 years old, he is unlikely to match his career goal scoring high of 40. In fact, he's only broken the 20 goal mark twice in the past eight years. He doesn't kill penalties, averaging between zero and two seconds of PK time per game, and he hasn't logged a ton of minutes in recent years either, averaging below 15 minutes total.
But a player with a shot release like Tarasenko possesses could be a perfect fit in Edmonton. He could give the Oilers a fresh wrinkle on their powerplay, and scoring depth at regular strength. While it's true he's scored fewer goals lately than in his peak seasons, he did manage 23 last year with the Minnesota Wild. And as a player that has always been a shooter, if he does happen to click with Connor McDavid (or Leon Draisaitl), then he'll be a key piece at a great value.
Stanley Cup winners add fading stars
Florida did it with Brad Marchand in 2025, and one could argue that Taylor Hall was a similar addition for the most recent champion, the Carolina Hurricanes. While older players often lose some of their top skating or reaction speed, they still have the ability to think the game at an elite level. Tarasenko also has his name on the Stanley Cup, from the St. Louis Blues' victorious run in 2019, and also as a veteran addition to the 2024 version of the Florida Panthers that beat the Oilers in seven games.
Everything for the Oilers is pointed toward the postseason. In twelve playoff appearances over his career, Tarasenko has 51 goals and 78 points. Even with the Wild exiting earlier than they would have liked to, Tarasenko managed five points in 11 games. He's a player who has the ability to impact any game he's a part of.
It should be noted that he also plays smart. Rarely does he take a bad penalty, and he has been in the conversation for the Lady Byng Trophy in the past. Tarasenko's total career penalty minutes since the 2012-13 season sit at 213. Furthermore, while his time on ice has declined in recent years, his points per 60 minutes have mostly held strong, only excepting his single season on a very bad team in Detroit.
If Tarasenko still has the desire for a Cup, and he isn't concerned about playing under Mike Babcock, then Edmonton could be a perfect fit for him.
Add us as a preferred source on Google