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Detroit Red Wings

Tarasenko Will Upsize Red Wings Forwards

Russian winger uses big body to protect puck

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2 months ago

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Vladimir Tarasenko, Red Wings
It's been some time since the Red Wings suited up a forward who uses his size as effectively as Vladimir Tarasenko.

One facet that Vladimir Tarasenko will be bringing to the ice for the Detroit Red Wings is that he will be upsizing the club’s forward line. The Red Wings don’t have another player in the lineup with the combination of size and scoring touch like the package that is the 6-foot-1, 219-pound Tarasenko.

“For sure,” Detroit GM Steve Yzerman said, acknowledging the uniqueness of Tarasenko on his club’s roster. “A left-shot winger, a bigger body, a different-type player than our other wingers like Lucas (Raymond), Patrick Kane, Alex DeBrincat.

“He’s a scorer, a straight-ahead guy who’s big and strong and will go to the net. We feel it’s a really good addition.”

There are different methods through which a bigger player can utilize their body to bring successful outcomes on the ice. Tarasenko isn’t a Brendan Shanhan type. He’s not going to be banging bodies, dropping the mitts and collecting Gordie Howe hat-tricks.

Nor is he James van Riemsdyk. Tarasenko won’t be camping out at the net front, tipping home pucks and knocking in rebounds.

His big game is more about maximizing his frame to get and maintain possession of the puck in the offensive zone.

“He’s obviously a skilled guy, a great shooter, but he works so hard,” said Kane, Tarasenko’s teammate with the New York Rangers in 2022-23. “He’s hard on pucks. He wins a lot of pucks back, and he’s got a great knack for getting open as well, so I think it’d be a good fit.”

Tarasenko A Menace On The Attack

That tenacity, combined with a heavy shot and elite touch with the puck, has enabled the 32-year-old Russian to collect six 30-goal seasons as an NHLer. That total includes five seasons in a row from 2014-15 through 2018-19. Tarasenko scored a career-high 40 goals in 2015-16.

“You don’t want him to shoot the puck with a clear lane,” Red Wings checking forward Christian Fischer said. “I think that is very evident.

“He’s one of the premier I mean, one of the most elite shots in the NHL. He’s scored huge goals.”

Plays With A Mean Streak

Fischer also admires that for all of his skill, Tarasenko also plays with an edge to his game.

“I think the big thing about him too, what I really respect about his game is as talented as he is and how gifted he is offensively, I think he has some meanness to him and he competes his ass off,” Fischer said. “He has a heavy, thick body that can outmuscle you, too.”

Even though he’s coming to Detroit off a Stanley Cup win with the Florida Panthers, Tarasenko vows that he’s still driven to achieve more. After averaging just over 20 goals per season the past two campaigns, he’s also anxious to show his critics that he’s still got plenty of goals remaining in his arsenal.

“I still love the game a lot,” Tarasenko said. “I still love to score and just want to prove to people I can do it more. And in the meantime, helping the team to step on up to the next level.”

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