Icy Relations Between MN Wild and Russian Agent Could Doom Contract Extension
Just like the Minnesota Wild — who they eliminated in round two of the Western Conference playoffs — the Colorado Avalanche’s season ended on Tuesday via four-game sweep at the hands of the Vegas Golden Knights.
It was one of the most shocking series outcomes in NHL history, and should prompt the NHL to take another look at its strange playoff format. But that is for another article. Here, we are already looking forward.
As MN Wild fans, what else do we have to look forward to? Plus, there is a lot that needs done. And first on president of hockey operations Bill Guerin‘s to-do list are deciding which unrestricted free agents they are most interested in re-signing.
Is Vladimir Tarasenko a priority for the MN Wild this offseason?
Among the list of ten players is 34-year-old forward Vladimir Tarasenko, who had a resurgent season in Minnesota last year, his first in a Wild sweater. The 14-year NHL veteran posted his first 20-goal, 20 assist season since 2023-24.
The MN Wild would only reportedly be willing to pay Tarasenko again, according to Joe Smith (The Athletic), if he would be okay with checks that are a bit smaller than last year’s $4.75 million in total salary.
Whether the Wild bring Tarasenko back is a little more complicated. They have about $15 million in cap space and have other free agents more on the front burner, specifically Mats Zuccarello and Michael McCarron. The Wild certainly liked Tarasenko, though the price would have to be right — and certainly not at the $4.75 million average annual value he carried on his expiring two-year deal.
Joe Smith – The Athletic
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Unfortunately for MN Wild fans who wants to see their second-favorite Russian hockey player back in Christmas colors, money seems like the least of your worries.
According to Smith, unrestricted free agents Mats Zuccarello and Michael McCarron sit above him on the totem pole. And while the Wild have cap space to work with, it’s far from unlimited.
Wait, there’s more standing between the two sides. Apparently, the relationship between the Minnesota Wild and Tarasenko’s agent, Paul Theofanous, has soured since last summer.
Paul Theofanous standing in the way of Tarasenko + Wild extension
See, Theofanous also represents Kirill Kaprizov, and the two took Bill Guerin for every last penny during the superstar’s negotiations last summer — a wound that is clearly still fresh in the mind of those in the MN Wild front office.
We knew relations between the Wild and Theofanous were bad, but apparently things are so bad that it’s difficult for Smith to see the two sides getting back together to negotiate a Tarasenko deal.
Though Tarasenko works with two agents now, Paul Theofanous and Pat Brisson, Theofanous is taking the lead on Tarasenko’s next deal. And after the Wild’s negotiations with Theofanous last summer in the Kirill Kaprizov mega extension (getting squeezed into a $17 million AAV deal), it’s unlikely they will play ball with him again in this situation.
Joe Smith – The Athletic
Related: MN Wild Less Willing to Trade Goalie Than Top Center
Barring Vladdy outright telling his agent he wants to be in Minnesota, which Joe doesn’t even mention as a possibility, it looks like Tarasenko will be playing hockey somewhere other than St. Paul next season.
Re-signing the 2x Stanley Cup winner was never going to be easy, but given the state of their relationship with his negotiating agent, it’s far more likely they sign other UFA’s before circling back to him.
The Athletic also mentions Marcus Johansson as a top priority, along with Zuccy and McCarron, for the Minnesota Wild this offseason. contract negotiations.
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