Tarasenko shift opens door to new activity in free agency

Larry Brooks revealed an interesting aspect of Tarasenko’s decision-making process. Despite receiving multiple offers from teams in the $5.5 to $6 million range at varying contract lengths, Tarasenko turned them all down, including one from the Carolina Hurricanes. This decision to reject offers and subsequently change agents adds an intriguing twist to the ongoing Tarasenko sweepstakes.

According to David Pagnotta of the Fourth Period, there are indications that Tarasenko is leaning towards signing a one-year deal with the Carolina Hurricanes, potentially in the range of $3 to $4 million. However, no official agreement has been reached yet. Hiring new representation absolutely confirms nothing is done. Other teams are reportedly keeping an eye on the situation, hoping to persuade Tarasenko to sign with them instead.

Tarasenko may have faced unexpected challenges in the free-agent market, particularly with the limited funds available in a place like Carolina, where the team signed his good friend Dmitry Orlov to a $7.75 million, two-year deal. This could have led, but was likely not exclusively related to, frustration regarding his lack of lucrative offers.

Andy Strickland further contributes to the discussion by suggesting that the potential signing of Tarasenko in Ottawa may have been placed on pause because of the issues in trading Alex DeBrincat. He notes that once DeBrincat is moved, potentially to the Detroit Red Wings, it could open the door for Tarasenko to join Ottawa.

Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun writes; “J.P. Barry and Pat Brisson, Tarasenko’s new representatives with @CAAHockey who were hired this morning, are reaching out to teams that were interested now. As @FriedgeHNIC noted this pushes any previous negotiations back to square one.”

As the Tarasenko saga continues to unfold, fans and analysts are eagerly watching for the next development in this intriguing storyline. The forward’s future destination remains uncertain, with various teams still vying for his services.