After exceeding 30 goals in a season six times with St. Louis, Tarasenko also played for the Rangers, Senators, Panthers and Red Wings.

With a thin free-agent market, the 33-year-old Tarasenko checks off one box for the Wild before the frenzy begins in earnest.

Steve Yzerman extricated the Detroit Red Wings from a contract that hadn't remotely paid off, clearing cap space and a roster spot. Vladimir Tarasenko, a free agent signing from last summer, was traded to the Minnesota Wild on Monday, June 30, the day before the start of NHL free agency.