Now is the time of the year when teams start to regret bringing in players they thought would be a major help. These players aren’t necessarily bad, and the one I’m about to talk about has done their fair share in helping to generate chances, but true success in hockey isn’t ultimately measured by who gets more chances.
Instead, it’s measured by goals scored vs. goals allowed, so my measurement today comes from both finishes and/or preventing the other team from finishing. While this player could still turn things around as we’re not even a quarter of the way into the season, each passing game is looking bleaker and bleaker for Vladimir Tarasenko.
I was particularly pleased to see Tarasenko come to Hockeytown, as not only was he a productive player, but it also made for a cool storyline. Last season, the Wings brought in veteran Patrick Kane, a former Chicago Blackhawk, and this year, they acquired Tarasenko, a former St. Louis Blue.
We all know about the Blues-Blackhawks rivalry, so watching two players from rival organizations unite up in nearby Detroit, another historical rival of the two franchises, made this one fun to follow. Unfortunately, Tarasenko has struggled, struggled, and struggled some more when it comes to putting up points.
Vladimir Tarasenko has been a major disappointment so far for the Red Wings
Yes, it’s been just a 13-game sample for Tarasenko, but three points, two goals, and just 19 shots on goal isn’t what any of us expected. His through rate of 46.3 is the fifth-worst among Red Wings forwards, and there’s hardly a single advanced statistic at even strength that works in his favor.
Tarasenko’s Corsi For is an abysmal 42.6, his on-ice shooting percentage (team shooting percentage when that player is on the ice) sits at 6.1, and he’s nearly averaging one giveaway per game. The only stat that looks good at the moment is the 94.0 on-ice save percentage at even strength, so at least opponents are having a tough time scoring when he’s out there.
Other than that, it’s been a rough ride so far for one of the game’s better players of the 2010s and a former Stanley Cup Champion. No, it’s not game over for Tarasenko just yet in Hockeytown, but if the Wings are still struggling come the new year and he’s still playing so-so hockey, his time in Detroit could be short-lived.