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Florida Panthers Happy to See Tarasenko Back in Town with Detroit

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Vladimir Tarasenko, pictured here taking a lap with the Stanley Cup following Game 7, returns to Sunrise tonight with the Detroit Red Wings. // Photo courtesy @FlaPanthers

FORT LAUDERDALE — When the Florida Panthers acquired Vladimir Tarasenko at the NHL Trade Deadline last March, it was like reacquiring an old teammate.



For many on the team, Tarasenko was considered an honorary Panther.

After all, he spent much of his offseason training with the Panthers so, when he joined the team, introductions did not take long at all.

Tarasenko ended up winning the Stanley Cup for the second time with the Panthers but, as is the case sometimes in the NHL salary cap world, was not here for long.

Tonight, Tarasenko returns to Sunrise when the Panthers welcome in the Detroit Red Wings — the team Tarasenko signed a two-year, $9.5-million deal with during the summer.

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As much as the Panthers would have liked to have Tarasenko back, they simply could not afford that kind of contract.

And, Tarasenko could not say no to something like that with an up-and-coming Detroit team that had plenty of cap space this summer.

“He was important for us,” Florida captain Sasha Barkov said. “He has been in the Cup Finals, had won the Cup, and he brought that veteran leadership to us. It was fun to watch him in practices and games in how hard he shot the puck. He was an unbelievable teammate. He brought everything to us. It will be fun to see him tonight.’’

Added Paul Maurice: “He was a great mentor. Vladi loves the game, loves to talk hockey, is completely immersed in it. We moved him around, played him in a bunch of different places and then he found his home with Luostarinen and Lundell. He was constantly on the bench, talking about plays. It was great for those two guys to have a veteran guy with a very high hockey IQ engaging them in the game. And, he scored some pretty big goals.’’

Tarasenko, who did not speak to the media following Detroit’s morning skate at the IcePlex Thursday, has struggled a bit with his new team.

On Tuesday, he scored twice in Detroit’s 6-3 loss to the San Jose Sharks.

It was the first time he scored in a span of 20 games.

New coach Todd McLellan hopes Tarasenko’s game Tuesday gets him going.

“He has had the puck on his tape a fair amount, and he has had looks at the net,” McLellan said. “A lot of what he was taking was either blocked or deflected, not quite getting there. Those two [goals] were lasers. They were released and he knew where they were going. I don’t know if he picked a spot, but he picked an area, and that’s what really good scorers do.”

Unlike other players, Tarasenko did not get his Stanley Cup ring on this trip.

His wife Yana was invited to the Panthers’ ring ceremony in Fort Lauderdale on Oct. 7 and accepted it on his behalf.

ON DECK: GAME No. 46
DETROIT RED WINGS at FLORIDA PANTHERS
  • When: Thursday, 7 p.m.
  • Where: Amerant Bank Arena, Sunrise
  • National TV: ESPN
  • Streaming: ESPN+
  • Radio: WPOW 96.5 FM-2; WBZT 1230-AM (West Palm Beach); WCTH 100.3-FM (Florida Keys); WCZR 101.7-FM (Treasure Coast); SiriusXM
  • Panthers Radio Streaming: SiriusXM 932, NHL/Panthers App
  • Last Season: Florida won 3-1
  • This Season — At Detroit: April 6. At Florida: Thursday; April 10.
  • All-time Regular Season Series: Florida leads 39-19-7, 5 ties
  • Up Next for the Panthers: Saturday vs. Anaheim Ducks, 6 p.m.

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