Former Stanley Cup champions Vladimir Tarasenko and Patrick Kane could be potent second-line wingers for the Detroit Red Wings this season.

DETROIT – Vladimir Tarasenko isn’t going to offset all the offense the Detroit Red Wings lost in the offseason, but he’ll be counted on to compensate for some of it.

It is as if, upon the acquisition of Patrick Kane 18 days later, Vladimir Tarasenko became kind of an afterthought for the Rangers.

Vladimir Tarasenko’s contributions impressed Rangers head coach Gerard Gallant in their 4-1 loss to the Jets on Monday.

In recent years it has been David Savard and Ben Chiarot. This year it might be Columbus Blue Jackets defender Vladislav Gavrikov. And he checks every box for that to happen.

Watch Vladimir Tarasenko on the Florida Panthers bench when he finishes a shift. Shortly after he and the rest of Florida’s top line get off the ice, the talking begins.

Among recent trade-deadline rentals who cost a first-round pick plus more are Ben Chiarot (2022), Nick Foligno (2021), David Savard (2021), Brandon Montour (2019), and Tomas Tatar (2018).

Letting Tarasenko walk into free agency for nothing, and that's where he was headed, would have made a regrettable situation worse.

Former Stanley Cup champions Vladimir Tarasenko and Patrick Kane could be potent second-line wingers for the Detroit Red Wings this season.

Former Stanley Cup champions Vladimir Tarasenko and Patrick Kane could be potent second-line wingers for the Detroit Red Wings this season.