The Detroit Red Wings added Daniil Tarasov on Wednesday, agreeing to a one-year, $2 million deal that gives them a veteran option behind John Gibson. The move came on opening day of free agency, when the Red Wings needed a proven goaltender after Cam Talbot’s two-year stay ended this summer.
Tarasov, 27, arrives with 98 career NHL games, a 3.30 goals-against average and a.897 save percentage. Last season, he played 33 games for the Florida Panthers and posted a 3.05 GAA with a.895 save percentage, numbers that fit a backup role more than a full-time starter’s job.
That role matters because Detroit entered the day wanting depth, not a rebuild in net. The club also signed free-agent forward Viktor Arvidsson earlier on Wednesday, but the goaltending move was the one that addressed the most obvious need after Talbot’s departure. The Red Wings also have minor-league depth in Michal Postava and Trey Augustine, though neither has NHL experience.
There is a twist to the signing that will not be lost on anyone who followed the season finale. Tarasov was in the opposing net when Florida beat Detroit 8-1 on April 15, and he made 24 saves that night. Detroit has now turned to the same goaltender for help, a reminder that need often matters more than memory in free agency.
How much Tarasov actually plays behind Gibson is still the unresolved piece. The Red Wings have four exhibition games to sort out the hierarchy, and while Michal Postava is expected to get a chance to show whether he can play in the NHL next season, Tarasov’s contract suggests Detroit wants a steady, experienced answer in place before that decision is forced.
