Vladimir Tarasenko

A two-time Stanley Cup champion and an NHL All-Star right winger, Vladimir Tarasenko made his professional debut in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) with Sibir Novosibirsk in the 2008–09 season, scoring 10 points in 38 games and earning a runner-up nomination for Rookie of the Year. He excelled in international junior play, securing a silver medal at the 2009 IIHF World U18 Championship before captaining Russia to a gold medal at the 2011 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships. His talent quickly led to him being drafted 16th overall by the St. Louis Blues in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft.

Over his tenure with St. Louis, he established himself as one of only two players to score at least 30 goals in five consecutive seasons from 2014–15 to 2018–19. He was named to the NHL Second All-Star Team twice (2015, 2016) and made four appearances in the NHL All-Star Games (2015, 2016, 2017, 2023). In 2017, his prominence was further cemented as the cover athlete for the video game NHL 17.

In March 2024, Tarasenko was traded to the Florida Panthers, where he went on to win his second Stanley Cup later that year. Following his second Stanley Cup victory, Tarasenko signed a two-year, $9.5 million contract with the Detroit Red Wings in July 2024, continuing his illustrious NHL career. In June 2025, he was traded to the Minnesota Wild, further solidifying his reputation as a prominent right winger in the league.