In the midst of a pivotal moment in the 2024-25 NHL season, star Patrick Kane's Detroit Red Wings lose a key player for the remainder of the current campaign.

Kane is beginning to make a case for the next international competition next year, the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy.

Tarasenko won the Stanley Cup with the Florida Panthers, which was the second time he won the Cup. He ended up signing a two-year $9.5 million deal with the Red Wings to add some offense to the lineup and help Detroit end its playoff drought.

"Anyone can beat anyone on any given night," said forward Andrew Copp, repeating a cliche that does ring true. "We played Edmonton real well this year and it's maybe the No. 1 team in the league. (Then) there are some games maybe we shouldn't have lost that we did lose." Two losses to San Jose and one to Buffalo stand out in that regard.