Vladimir Tarasenko

Steve Yzerman stares down a roster riddle as the Red Wings push for playoffs with rookies like Brandsegg-Nygård, Finnie and Sandin-Pellikka forcing their way onto the NHL squad after exceeding every expectation in camp. Deadline grabs of Perron and Faulk patch holes, but bottom-six forwards like Tarasenko, Berggren and Compher carry the weight of unmet promise, while Yzerman shipped Soderblom for pick value to lean on system depth.

Vladimir Tarasenko reminds everyone why he's a deadline steal, burying one past Akira Schmid in Minnesota's Vegas tilt. The veteran sniper thrives in big spots, and this tally adds to the Wild's growing momentum from their latest roster tweaks. With playoff positioning on the line, Tarasenko's hot hand tests Vegas's homecoming resolve.

The Wild waste no time bolstering their bottom six, claiming gritty forward Robby Fabbri off waivers from the Blues right after St. Louis dumped him to make room for Robert Thomas's return. Fabbri, a 2014 first-rounder who's bounced back from knee nightmares to notch double-digit goals multiple times, slides into Minnesota's lineup alongside old Blues buddy Vladimir Tarasenko while they park Marcus Foligno on IR with a lower-body tweak.