Fantasy Impact: The Detroit Red Wings have traded forward Vladimir Tarasenko to the Minnesota Wild for journeyman Future Considerations.

The Red Wings get: Considerations has run through several teams over the past year, as teams covet his versatility, as well as his ability to fit seamlessly in any dressing room without impacting the salary cap.

The Wild get: A veteran of 831 games and a six-time 30-goal scorer. the problem is, Tarasenko hasn’t scored 30 in any of the last three seasons, and bottomed out last year with just 11 goals and career-low 8.3 S%. At this point, the Wild hope he adds scoring depth on the third line, and possibly find some of that old magic and work his way back into the top six. We’re not holding our breath.

Fantasy Players Impacted: Tarasenko gets a fresh start and for now, his absence from the Detroit lineup frees up offensive zone minutes and ice time for players who have been held back from such things, such as Jonatan Berggren. Unless Patrick Kane re-signs, there will be two spots available like that, increasing the likelihood of prospects such as Carter Mazur, Nate Danielson and Michael Brandsegg-Nygard. Last season he mostly played with Berggren and in the second half JT Compher was on their line with them. It was mostly Marco Kasper in the first half. The metrics seem to indicate that Compher was the anchor who dragged the rest of the line down, but Tarasenko was also showed weak possession metrics, which was especially apparent when the possession-driver Kasper was on the line.

For the Wild, they bring in a veteran and former goal scorer whom they hope will be a goal scorer once again. Sometimes it’s just about chemistry on the right line. Right now, before free agency opens (not that teams can solve any scoring problems with what’s left on the market), the Wild have Kirill Kaprizov, Matt Boldy, Marco Rossi, Joel Eriksson Ek and Mats Zuccarello locked in for the top six. That leaves a spot open for Tarasenko, and perhaps Eriksson Ek’s supreme defensive acumen can cover off Tarasenko’s shortcomings. But likely not. Until Tarasenko starts scoring again, he is best served on the third line where he won’t be making things more difficult for JEE. Coming off an 11-goal season, it’s difficult to expect him to get immediate time on the Kaprizov line, but stranger things have happened. That said, a fresh start is never a bad thing so Tarasenko owners who have remained loyal can at least cling to that hope.

While this added depth provides another obstacle for prospect forwards Liam Ohgren and Danila Yurov to find quality roster spots and ice time, the cream always rises to the top. That is to say, unless Tarasenko becomes the Tarasenko of old (doubtful), they’ll have their spots soon enough.

Fantasy Players this helps, in order:

1. Berggren
2. Prospects such as MBN, Danielson and Mazur
3. Tarasenko

Fantasy Players this hurts, in order:

1. Possibly Eriksson Ek
2. Possibly Ohgren or Yurov for the short term