Vladimir Tarasenko

Playing career

Russia

Tarasenko made his professional debut with Sibir Novosibirsk of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) in 2008–09, scoring seven goals and ten points in 38 games and was the runner up in voting for Rookie of the Year in the KHL's inaugural season. He was released to play with the Russian junior team at the 2009 IIHF World U18 Championships, where he scored eight goals in seven games and was named a tournament all-star as Russia won silver. Tarasenko returned to Sibir in 2009–10 as the seventh-youngest player in the League. He again represented Russia at the 2010 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships, finishing third in team scoring with five points in six games.

International Scouting Services (ISS) ranked Tarasenko as the top-ranked European skater, and fourth overall, in its mid-term rankings ahead of the 2010 NHL entry draft. Described by scouts as strong and mobile with no glaring weaknesses, Tarasenko had expressed interest in playing in the NHL, though his father, also his coach with Sibir, believed it was important that his son remain in Russia. Tarasenko was ultimately drafted by St. Louis Blues of the National Hockey League (NHL) in the first round, 16th overall, at the 2010 draft with the pick obtained via a trade from the Ottawa Senators St. Louis had acquired in exchange for David Rundblad.

On 13 January 2012, Tarasenko was traded to SKA Saint Petersburg in exchange for Vyacheslav Solodukhin. On 2 June 2012, Tarasenko announced that he would be moving to North America to play in the NHL for the St. Louis Blues rather than staying and playing in the KHL. As a result of the 2012–13 NHL lockout that cancelled a large part of the NHL regular season, however, Tarasenko instead returned to SKA to begin 2012–13. He credited the decision in part to a desire to play with Ilya Kovalchuk, the captain of the team who also joined as a result of the lockout.

St. Louis Blues (2012–2023)

Once the lockout ended, Tarasenko began the shortened, 48-game 2012–13 season with the Blues. He scored his first and second career NHL goals on the first two shots of his league debut on 19 January 2013, against Jimmy Howard of the Detroit Red Wings in a 6–0 blowout. On 4 February, Tarasenko was named the NHL's Rookie of the Month for January after scoring five goals and four assists (nine points). He ultimately finished his first NHL season with eight goals and 11 assists in 38 games.

On 19 March 2014, towards the conclusion of the 2013–14 season, Tarasenko underwent successful surgery to repair a hand injury sustained in a 4–1 Blues win over the Nashville Predators. He was expected to miss the remainder of the regular season, but made a quick recovery, returning to play in the 2014 Stanley Cup playoffs where he scored four goals in the series against the Chicago Blackhawks.

On 28 October 2014, during the 2014–15 season, Tarasenko recorded his first career NHL hat-trick against Kari Lehtonen of the Dallas Stars and was later named the NHL's First Star of the Week after scoring five goals and one assist during the week. Tarasenko finished the regular season leading the Blues in both goals (37) and points (73), also finishing fifth in the league in goals and ninth in total points. On 18 April 2015, Tarasenko scored his first career Stanley Cup playoff hat-trick against Devan Dubnyk of the Minnesota Wild in Game 2 of St. Louis' Western Conference Quarterfinals matchup. In the series, he scored six goals and one assist (seven points), though the Blues ultimately fell to the Wild in six games. On 7 July 2015, during the subsequent off-season, Tarasenko, as a restricted free agent, signed an eight-year, $60 million contract with St. Louis at an annual average value of $7.5 million. Tarasenko is known for his very accurate and unique wrist shot, which has earned him a reputation as one of the most dangerous goal scorers in the NHL. He was one of only two players to score at least 30 goals in a five-season stretch from 2014–15 through 2018–19, along with fellow-Russian Alexander Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals.

Tarasenko won the Stanley Cup with the Blues in 2019, St. Louis' first Stanley Cup in their 52-year franchise history. During the Blues' 2019 playoff run, Tarasenko recorded 11 goals, the second-highest total among Blues players and the third-highest among all players in the playoffs. In game 5 of the 2019 Western Conference Final against the San Jose Sharks, Tarasenko became the first player in Blues playoff history to score a goal on a penalty shot.

On 24 October 2019, during a 5–2 win over the Los Angeles Kings, Tarasenko was forced to leave the game after getting tangled up with Kings defenceman Sean Walker. Four days later, it was announced that Tarasenko would require shoulder surgery and be sidelined at least five months. This was the second of three shoulder surgeries Tarasenko would undergo in a span of less than three years due to lingering instability, the first after an April 2018 injury and the third following an early departure from the team in the 2020 postseason.

On 7 July 2021, it was reported that Tarasenko had requested a trade from St. Louis due to him being unhappy with how the club had handled his shoulder surgeries. He was left unprotected in the 2021 NHL expansion draft, but was not selected.

Despite tensions between the Blues and Tarasenko, a trade could not be made to honor his request to be moved. The two sides ultimately put the situation behind them and Tarasenko remained with St. Louis for the 2021–22 season. Tarasenko went on to have the most productive year of his career to that point, scoring 34 goals and setting career highs in assists (48) and points (82), averaging more than a point per game. He helped the Blues advance to the second round of the 2022 NHL playoffs, tallying nine points and six goals in 12 playoff games, including his second career playoff hat trick in Game 5 of the Blues' first round series against the Minnesota Wild. During the playoffs, he also scored his 40th career postseason goal, becoming the second player in franchise history besides Brett Hull to reach that mark.

New York Rangers (2023)

Tarasenko, alongside defenceman Niko Mikkola, was traded to the New York Rangers on 9 February 2023. In his Rangers debut a day later against the Seattle Kraken, Tarasenko scored his first goal with his new team in only 2:49 in the first period, which was the fourth fastest goal in Rangers debut in franchise history, behind Norman Lowe (1:00 in 1950), Lane Lambert (2:28 in 1986), and Mike Allison (2:44 in 1980). He scored eight goals and 21 points in 31 games with the Rangers while going unpenalized. He added three goals and four points in seven playoff games.

Ottawa Senators (2023–2024)

Having left the Rangers as an unrestricted free agent, on 27 July 2023, Tarasenko signed a one-year, $5 million contract with the Ottawa Senators. Tarasenko joined the Senators with the intention of getting them to the playoffs. He made his debut with Ottawa in the season opener versus the Carolina Hurricanes on 11 October 2023. Tarasenko scored his first goal in a Senators uniform on 15 October against Matt Tomkins in a 5–2 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning. On 5 December, Tarasenko scored twice and assisted on another in a 6–2 win over his former team, the New York Rangers. On 12 January 2024, Tarasenko registered his 600th career point when he scored on Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen in a 5–3 loss to the Buffalo Sabres. However, the Senators were not in a playoff position near the trade deadline. Tarasenko had been given a no-movement clause in his contract by former general manager Pierre Dorion, the new general manager Steve Staios asked him to waive it in order to trade him.

Florida Panthers (2024)

On 6 March 2024, the Senators traded Tarasenko to the Florida Panthers in exchange for a conditional 2024 fourth-round and a 2025 third-round pick. He made his Panthers debut on 7 March against the Philadelphia Flyers. He scored his first two goals as a Panther on 9 March on Jacob Markström in a 5–1 win over the Calgary Flames. He finished the 2023–24 season with six goals and eight assists in 19 regular season games and five goals and four assists in 24 playoff games. On 24 June, Tarasenko won his second Stanley Cup after the Panthers beat the Edmonton Oilers 2–1 in game 7 of the 2024 Stanley Cup Final.

Detroit Red Wings (2024–2025)

An unrestricted free agent at season's end, on 3 July 2024, Tarasenko signed a two-year, $9.5 million contract with the Detroit Red Wings.

Minnesota Wild (2025–present)

After just one season in Detroit where Tarasenko underperformed relative to his contract expectations, he was traded to the Minnesota Wild on 30 June 2025, in exchange for future considerations.

International play

Internationally, Tarasenko has played for the Russian junior team three times, winning a silver medal at the 2009 IIHF World U18 Championships, sixth place at the 2010 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships and captained Russia to a gold medal at the 2011 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships. At the senior level, Tarasenko has also played for Russia at the 2011 IIHF World Championship and was a member of the Russian national team for the 2014 Winter Olympics held in his native Russia, in Sochi. He represented Russia at the 2015 IIHF World Championship, winning a silver medal, the 2016 World Cup of Hockey, and 2021 IIHF World Championship.

Personal life

Tarasenko's father, Andrei, was a former Russian league scoring champion and Olympian who competed at the 1994 Winter Olympics.

Tarasenko and his wife were married on 1 July 2015. The couple has two sons. Tarasenko's wife has a son from previous marriage.

Tarasenko was the cover athlete for EA Sports' NHL 17.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

International

Awards and honors

References

References

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2. (11 January 2010). "2010 prospects: Vladimir Tarasenko". Hockey's Future.
3. "2010 U20 World Championship – Player statistics by team – Russia". [[International Ice Hockey Federation.
4. (18 January 2010). "International Scouting Services: Hall remains top draft pick". [[The Sports Network.
5. "NHL Entry Draft Prospect Profiles". National Hockey League.
6. link. SKA St. Petersburg. (13 January 2012)
7. "Blues, Tarasenko Agree to Entry Level Deal".
8. (24 February 2012). "Kovalchuk Played Role in Return to SKA – Tarasenko". [[RIA Novosti]].
9. (4 February 2013). "Tarasenko Named Rookie of the Month". St. Louis Blues.
10. "Blues forward Tarasenko to have hand surgery". National Hockey League.
11. Powers, Scott. (17 April 2014). "Blues not at full strength for opener". ESPN.
12. (3 November 2014). "Tarasenko Named No. 1 Star of the Week". St. Louis Blues.
13. (18 April 2015). "Postgame Recap: Wild vs Blues – Game 2". National Hockey League.
14. Rutherford, Jeremy P.. (7 July 2015). "Tarasenko agrees to eight-year, $60 million contract". St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
15. Spiegel, Jackie. (19 May 2019). "Tarasenko scores Blues 1st-ever postseason penalty shot". The Sporting News.
16. Rutherford, Jeremy. (20 July 2021). "A chip on his shoulder: Vladimir Tarasenko's doctor says disgruntled Blues star is healthy and motivated". The Athletic.
17. Rutherford, Jeremy. (7 July 2021). "Blues winger Vladimir Tarasenko requests a trade, per sources: Why he wants out, possible destinations and more". The Athletic.
18. Wyshynski, Greg. (8 July 2021). "Disgruntled star winger Vladimir Tarasenko, 29, requests trade from St. Louis Blues, source says".
19. Gold-Smith, Josh. (21 July 2021). "Kraken pass on Price, Tarasenko in expansion draft".
20. "St. Louis Blues ‑ All‑Time NHL Playoff Leaders".
21. (9 February 2023). "Tarasenko traded to Rangers by Blues". National Hockey League.
22. (10 February 2023). "Vladimir Tarasenko scores early in Rangers debut on 'crazy day'".
23. (27 July 2023). "Senators sign forward Vladimir Tarasenko to a one-year contract". [[Ottawa Senators]].
24. Mendes, Ian. (28 September 2024). "Vladimir Tarasenko arrives in Ottawa to put them over the top: 'This team is capable'". The Athletic.
25. Garrioch, Bruce. (11 October 2023). "The Breakdown: Ottawa Senators drop season opener to Carolina Hurricanes". Ottawa Sun.
26. Fraser, Callum. (15 October 2023). "Tarasenko gets 1st goal for Senators in win against Lightning". National Hockey League.
27. (5 December 2024). "Tkachuk and Tarasenko score twice to help Senators rout Rangers 6-2". ESPN.
28. Adams, Alex. (12 January 2024). "Senators Close Out Another 0 for 5 Road Trip With 5-3 Loss in Buffalo". The Hockey News.
29. Garrioch, Bruce. (4 March 2024). "Garrioch: Senators winger Vladimir Tarasenko can pick and choose his new home". Ottawa Sun.
30. (6 March 2024). "Florida Panthers Acquire Forward Vladimir Tarasenko". Florida Panthers.
31. Dwork, David. (7 March 2024). "Vladimir Tarasenko expected to make Panthers debut against Philadelphia". The Hockey News.
32. Guy, Colby. (9 March 2024). "Vladimir Tarasenko scores first 2 goals as a Panther, Florida beats Calgary 5-1". The San Diego-Union Tribune.
33. Roth, Thomas. (3 July 2024). "Red Wings sign Vladimir Tarasenko to two-year contract".
34. Clipperton, Joshua. (24 June 2024). "Oilers fall short of history as Panthers win Game 7 to capture 1st Stanley Cup title". CBC Sports.
35. (3 July 2024). "Tarasenko signs 2-year, $9.5 million contract with Red Wings".
36. (30 June 2025). "Tarasenko traded to Wild by Red Wings for future considerations".
37. Kimelman, Adam. (18 December 2009). "Tarasenko has shown he belongs among world's best". National Hockey League.
38. "Свадьба Владимира Тарасенко и его музы".
39. "У Владимира Тарасенко родился сын Александр".
40. (8 June 2019). "У Тарасенко родился сын во время финала Кубка Стэнли. Три года назад такой стимул помог Малкину".
41. "Tarasenko wins EA SPORTS NHL 17 cover vote".
42. (4 February 2013). "Tarasenko Named Rookie of the Month". National Hockey League.
43. (12 June 2019). "Blues win cup for first time, defeat Bruins in Game 7 of final". [[National Hockey League]].
44. link. (15 October 2012 Retrieved 7 August 2011.)