In Russian culture, New Year’s Day is an important holiday, celebrated with music and fireworks throughout the country. When he met with the Minnesota media via Zoom on Tuesday, new Wild forward Vladimir Tarasenko recalled a special New Year’s Day he spent in the State of Hockey a few years ago, wearing the colors of the enemy.
On a bitterly cold first day of 2022, Tarasenko scored one of the St. Louis Blues’ goals in a 6-4 win over the Wild at Target Field in Minneapolis, in the first NHL Winter Classic played in Minnesota. Laughing in the face of weather that was well below zero at the opening faceoff, the Blues arrived at the ballpark in beachwear.
“That night was very cold,” Tarasenko recalled. “It’s one of the first times me and my family were able to celebrate New Year’s Eve outside of our home. The game was crazy, and I remember it was very cold. But also, I played a lot against the Wild in a lot of playoff series. What I remember was every game was very hard. In their home building, crazy fans, always a full stadium. It was very hard to play.”
Of the quartet of goals mustered by the Wild that frigid night, Kirill Kaprizov scored one and assisted on two others. Tarasenko said Tuesday that he and his new teammate had already spoken by phone a few times since the trade that brought Tarasenko to Minnesota was announced on Monday.
“I heard a lot of good things from Kirill when I talked with him about the team and the group,” said Tarasenko, who is 33 and coming off one of the quieter offensive seasons of his career. “I also like the style of hockey the team plays. I talked to my family and thanks to Bill (Guerin) for the trust. I will come and try to help the team in any way possible.”
A marquee player with the Blues for a decade, including their 2019 run to the franchise’s first Stanley Cup, Tarasenko won a second NHL title with Florida in 2024, then found himself in a bottom-six role with a middling Red Wings team that made an in-season coaching change and finished outside of the Eastern Conference playoff picture last season.
With Minnesota, he is expected to play a more prominent role. Tarasenko noted that with Detroit’s season ending in mid-April, he has had a longer offseason for one of the rare times in his career.
“I feel very confident. I have a lot of time this summer … so much time to prepare this summer and get some rest, physically and mentally, as well,” he said. “Whatever’s happened the last two years, me and my family have no regrets. We’re looking forward to the next chapter. Like I said, we’re excited and I always believe in myself.”
In making the trade with Detroit, sending future considerations to the Red Wings in return — which essentially means Tarasenko’s addition was free — Guerin talked about the player’s Stanley Cup rings and bringing that championship experience to a Wild locker room that, when healthy, they feel is not far off from the ability to make a deep playoff run.
“There’s a lot of small things that are important if you play on a winning team,” Tarasenko said. “A lot of it goes with confidence. When I come to the team, I’ll do whatever I can to help.”
Tarasenko wore number 91 with the Blues, Rangers and Senators, before donning 10 in Florida and 11 last season with Detroit.
Vladimir Tarasenko #11 of the Detroit Red Wings skates against the New York Islanders at UBS Arena on Oct. 22, 2024 in Elmont, New York. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
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