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Tarasenko Trying to Hit Market Early; MN Wild Say Not So Fast…
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- Tarasenko Trying to Hit Market Early; MN Wild Say Not So Fast…
IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Minnesota Wild winger Vladimir Tarasenko has been on a collision course with free agency pretty much since the moment Minnesota's second round playoff run came to an end.
While it would have been difficult to fit him into any future plans anyway — due to what he will cost and the lack of funds currently available to Wild president of hockey operations Bill Guerin — Vladdy's employment of infamous Russian agent, Paul Theofanous certainly didn't help.
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For those who aren't learned on the subject, Theofanous and Billy G. aren't exactly getting along right now. That's one reason why it was newsworthy when Tarasenko recently fired Theofanous, in favor of another NHL agent well known among high-end Russian players, Dan Milstein .
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However, nothing happened between the Minnesota Wild and their top-six forward of the past two seasons. Until today, when things got a little weird.
It all started when NHL insider Pierre LeBrun (The Athletic) tweeted that the Minnesota Wild had supposedly given Tarasenko permission to speak with other NHL teams ahead of free agency on Wednesday.
Not only does Milstein not have permission from the Wild, the league recently warned all teams they cannot give blanket permission for UFA's to do this. You can trade rights and then they can talk to that specific team https://t.co/PUGU0b2FS2
— Michael Russo (@RussoHockey) June 28, 2026
You don't need my St. Cloud State University Bachelor's Degree to realize the many potential problems with any free agent being allowed to hit the open market days before his competition.
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If the Wild are allowing their pending unrestricted free agents talk with other teams before they are allowed by NHL rules, what is stopping every pending UFA not expected to re-up with their current team from doing the same thing?
Well, MN Wild insider and beat reporter Michael Russo (The Athletic) was on the case very quickly, making contact with higher ups in the organization to investigate what was really going on with Vladimir Tarasenko's early entrance into free agency.
Russo: MN Wild did NOT give Tarasenko permission
And wouldn't you know it, after making some calls, Russo quickly found out that Minnesota did not give Vladdy permission to speak with other teams. In fact, the league recently reached out to all NHL teams to warn them against doing exactly what Tarasenko's agent is claiming the Wild did.
Not only does Milstein not have permission from the Wild, the league recently warned all teams they cannot give blanket permission for UFA's to do this. You can trade rights and then they can talk to that specific team https://t.co/PUGU0b2FS2
— Michael Russo (@RussoHockey) June 28, 2026
Russo went on to tell one of his commenters on X that, if Milstein did indeed tell LeBrun that he's been allowed to talk with teams early, then Tarasenko's new agent would be guilty of tampering.
I'm saying wild say he does not have permission, so if Milstein told LeBrun this, he's tampering
— Michael Russo (@RussoHockey) June 28, 2026
This situation only adds to what has already been a really weird offseason for the Minnesota Wild, and their president of hockey operations, Bill Guerin . It all started earlier this month, whe Dylan Larkin decided he no longer wanted to be a Detroit Red Wing .
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He and the Wild immediately showed mutual interest and, outside of a Michael McCarron extension , that has put Minnesota's offseason at a stand-still .
Related: MN Wild Still in on Dylan Larkin… but How?
Meanwhile, the handful of unrestricted free agents that were hoping to negotiate new contracts , before they hit the open market on July 1, have been left high and dry, including Vladimir Tarasenko and Kirill Kaprizov 's partner in crime, Mats Zuccarello .
At his closing press conference, the 38-year-old veteran thought he was a shoe-in to return next season, but never got the call he was waiting. For those wondering, he's not happy about it .
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But Zuccy is only one top-six caliber forward that's no longer expected to be on the team in 2026-27. Marcus Johansson has already left for Sweden, where he plans to finish his professional hockey career.
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