5 Players In Stanley Cup Final to Watch for New Jersey Devils

Vladimir Tarasenko

This is another situation with a gigantic “not too expensive” asterisk on it. Vladimir Tarasenko still has something left in the tank. Speaking of tank, he’s built like one. The 32-year-old winger is listed at close to 220 lbs. This coming from a man who can still score 20+ goals each season. He’s having a quiet playoff, with only three goals and three assists in 17 games. 

This is why he deserves so much attention in the Final. This is where he can make his money. If he doesn’t play up to his name value, he might see himself lose the idea of a long-term deal. 

Tarasenko hasn’t looked the same since shoulder injuries started to hamper him. That goes one of two ways: either it derails his career and he’ll quickly get worst, or he will finally recover and have some great bounce-back seasons. 

The Devils need to see what this guy brings to the table when it matters most. The more we look into this possible signing, the more risk it seems to have. Tarasenko is going to get paid based on his name alone. Players who score 20 goals don’t often make $4-6 million per season. However, not many close-to 300 goal scorers become available, even at the tail end of their prime.