There is one less transfer saga in the National Hockey League. In a long list of unrestricted free agents, Vladimir Tarasenko was perhaps the main and most valuable asset even against the backdrop of Patrick Kane — the Russian forward has several more years of a bright career in the major hockey league ahead, while the 34-year-old American star is hardly living up to his former ambitions.
Now in Tarasenko's overseas campaign there is a place for his third club. The new Russian team was “Ottawa”. From now on, Vladimir will defend the colors of the franchise from the capital of Canada. True, perhaps not as long as expected. Tarasenko's contract with the Senators is only for one year. But the 2023/24 season will be decisive for Vladi in his rich career.
And there are several good reasons for that. Since the opening of the free agent market on July 1, many NHL clubs have made a lot of deals. Among them were the contenders for the Stanley Cup in the new season, because of which there was practically no room for a big maneuver under the salary cap. This year's salary cap will be $83.5 million, just a million more than before. In such circumstances, Tarasenko, hoping to get into the club-contractor for the sake of realizing his ambitions to become a champion again here and now, could decide only taking into account the rejection of his own financial appetites. However, his cap hit on a previous NHL contract was as much as $ 7.5 million — no league superstar would agree to take a sharp pay cut. And Tarasenko belongs to this category. It is possible that if the side of the Russian striker did not delay the moment of signing the contract and acted much more quickly, the player would still be able to win a place in a top club with a good salary.
Vladimir took a different path, which in the current realities remained, perhaps, the most profitable in terms of the term and amount of the contract. The Russian signed with the “Ottawa” for one year and received quite sane financial terms, not least thanks to his new agent J.P. Barry, who is considered one of the leading specialists in the world of hockey. In this regard, the Senators, against the backdrop of rumors about the potential departure of Tarasenko to the San Jose Sharks or the Nashville Predators, were the best option.
However, this path is also risky for Vladimir. The Russian is 31 years old, and he is still determined to make more than one strong statement in the NHL with his game. With the start of the 2024/25 season, the league plans to increase the salary cap again, which will allow Tarasenko to count on a solid contract both in terms of money and in terms of time. Possibly the last contract of his career. But for this, the hockey player needs to prove himself from the best side in terms of the game and scoring points. Only by confirming his superstar class will he receive the desired offer. Whether Vladimir succeeds in carrying out his plan or not, only time will tell, it is impossible to accurately predict the future scenario.
However, the coming year will probably save Tarasenko from unnecessary pressure in the fight for the Stanley Cup. Y “Ottawa” has gathered quite a young and talented team, but it is still not one of the contenders for the championship. A long-awaited playoff berth is a reasonable limit for the Senators to focus on right now. In this case, Vladimir will have the opportunity to think more about the development of his career. Moreover, the Russian is provided with a place in the first two links, and at the same time the role of one of the leaders. More playing time and trust from the coaching staff — more chances to show a master class and convince new potential employers. Simple formula. Vladimir understands this perfectly, and therefore we have to expect a bright performance from him in the new season, which starts in October.