Vladimir Tarasenko is still sitting on the free agent board, and the Edmonton Oilers keep coming up as one of his suitors.
Elliotte Friedman said Friday night that Edmonton's interest in Claude Giroux is still alive, even with nothing signed yet.
Friedman noted reports had Giroux ticketing back to Philadelphia, calling the Flyers busy without confirming any deal is close.
If Giroux lands somewhere else, Friedman floated Tarasenko as the pivot. A few teams checked in on him once free agency day one settled down.
The 34-year-old Russian winger wore number 91 in Minnesota last season and remains without a contract for next year.
Tarasenko put up 23 goals and 24 assists for 47 points in 75 games with the Wild this season, adding five power play goals.
He chipped in two goals and three assists across 11 playoff games, playing out an expiring 4,750,000 cap hit.
Tarasenko's minus rating could complicate his next contract
He also finished the season at minus-11, a number that will draw scrutiny if he lands a bigger role somewhere else.
Minnesota closed the year at 46-24-12 with a plus-32 goal differential, good for seventh overall in the league.
Edmonton finished 41-30-11 with a plus-13 differential, going 6-2-2 over its final ten games of the season.
The Oilers are already carrying Leon Draisaitl's 14,000,000 cap hit, the richest deal in the league, which limits how much room they have to spend.
Signing Tarasenko as the fallback plan feels light for a team still hunting more scoring punch. He can finish, but he's not walking in as a difference-maker at 34.
GM Stan Bowman hasn't said a word publicly, and Edmonton hasn't shown its hand beyond what Friedman is hearing.
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Free agency rarely moves in straight lines. Whether it ends up being Giroux, Tarasenko, or neither, Edmonton's forward mix stays an open question heading into camp.
Would Vladimir Tarasenko actually move the needle for the Oilers?
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