Tarasenko remains a sought-after free agent

Vladimir Tarasenko remains a notable unrestricted free agent as teams explore potential signings. According to The Hockey News, Tarasenko is still without a contract 20 days after free agency opened, despite coming off a 23-goal, 47-point season with the Minnesota Wild.

The Buffalo Sabres are one team reportedly interested; however, their pursuit of Patrick Kane could impact their willingness to sign Tarasenko if they secure Kane. The Edmonton Oilers have also been linked to Tarasenko throughout the offseason, looking for depth scoring options to complement their offensive stars like Leon Draisaitl.

The Tampa Bay Lightning, facing a drop in depth scoring after losing players like Nick Paul, might also benefit from adding Tarasenko, especially to strengthen their second power-play unit. Meanwhile, the Utah Mammoth, while not a critical destination, could see Tarasenko as a depth scorer to enhance their lineup after a successful playoff run last season.

Overall, while Tarasenko is still available, teams are weighing their options and strategizing how to best enhance their rosters ahead of the upcoming season.