Wild Coach John Hynes likes Vladimir Tarasenko's overall game, but acknowledges the veteran forward needs to get his shot off more. Despite some inconsistency at 34 years old, Tarasenko has been playing solid hockey for Minnesota, according to Hynes.
The Wild coach praised Tarasenko's "details" and noted that he plays well without the puck, making smart decisions and being competitive. In recent games, Hynes has seen improvement from Tarasenko, particularly on his line with Nico Sturm and Yakov Trenin in Calgary.
However, there is still a desire to see more offense from Tarasenko, who has been relatively quiet since returning from a lower-body injury. "I think if he can get that shot off more, it would be a great asset for us," Hynes said. This sentiment echoes the frustration Wild fans once had with Tarasenko's scoring ability in his prime.
The 34-year-old Russian forward, who has played 10 seasons in the NHL, is coming off two seasons with the Detroit Red Wings and brought to Minnesota for minimal cost. Since joining the Wild, he has been working to fit into the team's culture, even making a personal visit to the Tarasenko family home after the trade.
As Hynes continues to evaluate Tarasenko's contributions, it remains to be seen if he can regain his former form and become the consistent scorer the Wild need. For now, however, Hynes is pleased with the progress of this veteran forward.
The Wild coach praised Tarasenko's "details" and noted that he plays well without the puck, making smart decisions and being competitive. In recent games, Hynes has seen improvement from Tarasenko, particularly on his line with Nico Sturm and Yakov Trenin in Calgary.
However, there is still a desire to see more offense from Tarasenko, who has been relatively quiet since returning from a lower-body injury. "I think if he can get that shot off more, it would be a great asset for us," Hynes said. This sentiment echoes the frustration Wild fans once had with Tarasenko's scoring ability in his prime.
The 34-year-old Russian forward, who has played 10 seasons in the NHL, is coming off two seasons with the Detroit Red Wings and brought to Minnesota for minimal cost. Since joining the Wild, he has been working to fit into the team's culture, even making a personal visit to the Tarasenko family home after the trade.
As Hynes continues to evaluate Tarasenko's contributions, it remains to be seen if he can regain his former form and become the consistent scorer the Wild need. For now, however, Hynes is pleased with the progress of this veteran forward.
. On one hand, I love that he's fitting in well with the team and showing signs of improvement on the ice 
. But at 34, it's legit to expect more from him, you know? He needs to find that spark again 
. Still, Hynes seems to be all about praising his efforts and wanting the best for him 
. I think we'll just have to wait and see if Tarasenko can regain his form and become that consistent scorer we're all rooting for 
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. I mean, 10 seasons in the NHL at 34? That's like, ancient in hockey years 
. They're getting him for minimal cost, which is huge. And Hynes seems to see some potential in him still, just needs to get that shot off more 
. The personal visit to his family home after the trade? That shows he's really committed to being a part of this team. And I think it's awesome that Hynes is praising his details play and decision-making 
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. He was an elite scorer in his prime, so we're all expecting that level of production from him now 
. Still, with a solid line like Sturm and Trenin on his wing, I think he can get back there if he works hard enough 
. Maybe Wild fans need to remember that players have bad games just like everyone else? Tarasenko has been making an effort to fit in with the team, even visiting his family's home after the trade - that's pretty cool 
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But seriously, if Tarasenko can get that shot off more, we might actually see some magic happen. 10 seasons of experience is no joke, you gotta respect that 
. The Wild need him to be consistent, or else they're stuck with a mediocre team 
. It's like the coach is saying "Hey Vladimir, you're playing well, but that's not enough". He needs to get more offense out of himself, period 
. 34 and still getting the job done, that's impressive. I mean, sure he needs to get his shot off more, but you can't teach experience, right? Hynes knows what he's talking about, the guy's been around the block a few times. And hey, it's all about culture fit, so if Tarasenko's willing to put in the work and make that personal visit to the family home, I say we're golden 
. We need guys like him who know how to play smart hockey, not just score goals for the sake of scoring. Can't wait to see what he does next season 
. Tarasenko's got some amazing skills, but it seems like he's lost that magic since coming to Minnesota 
. Still, Hynes seems to think he's turning things around, and that's cool 
.
. I mean, he's not scoring as many goals as he used to, but he's doing other stuff well, like you said, making smart decisions on the ice and all that. It's just frustrating for fans who expect more from him because of what we saw in his prime 
. But still, Hynes seems pretty pleased with how things are going and I don't wanna be the one to disagree too much 
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... 34 and still putting in solid work! He's got some experience under his belt (10 seasons in the NHL, you know?) and it shows he knows how to play smart hockey 
. I love that he's working hard to fit into the Wild's culture, too - that personal visit to his fam's house after the trade was so cool 
! Now, let's see if he can get his shot on target more often... we all know what a difference that would make for the team 
. Wild fans were expecting more from him in his prime, but you never know what happens when you're 10+ years into your career