Vladimir Tarasenko
A Russian winger with a blistering shot and clutch scoring touch, he became a Stanley Cup champion and a cornerstone of St. Louis Blues hockey.
Born 1991 (age 35)·Russian ice hockey player·Birthday: December 13·Millennials
Biography
Vladimir Tarasenko announced himself to the NHL not with a whisper, but with a cannon of a shot. Drafted by the St. Louis Blues, the Russian winger quickly established himself as one of the league's most feared pure goal-scorers, capable of deciding games in an instant. His powerful stride and ability to release the puck from any angle made him a perennial threat, consistently topping the 30-goal mark. The pinnacle of his tenure in St. Louis came in 2019, when his offensive contributions were vital in driving the Blues to their first-ever Stanley Cup championship. After a decade as a franchise icon, he embarked on a new chapter with stints in New York and Ottawa before landing with the Minnesota Wild, where his veteran presence and proven scoring ability continue to command respect across the league.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Vladimir was born in 1991, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Vladimir Was Born
The biggest hits of 1991
#1 Movie
Terminator 2: Judgment Day
Best Picture
The Silence of the Lambs
#1 TV Show
Cheers
Vladimir's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1991Born
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
1996Started school
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
2004Became a teenager
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2007Could drive
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2009Could vote
Michael Jackson dies; Bitcoin created
Gas: $2.35/galHome: $148,500Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Boom Boom Pow" — The Black Eyed PeasBest Picture: The Hurt Locker
2012Turned 21
Curiosity rover lands on Mars; Sandy Hook shooting
Gas: $3.64/galHome: $143,200Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Somebody That I Used to Know" — GotyeBest Picture: Argo
2021Turned 30
January 6 Capitol breach; COVID vaccines roll out globally
Gas: $3.01/galHome: $298,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Levitating" — Dua LipaBest Picture: CODA
2026Age 35 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the Stanley Cup with the St. Louis Blues in 2019, contributing 11 goals in the playoff run.
- Recorded six consecutive seasons with 30 or more goals for the St. Louis Blues from 2014-2020.
- Represented Russia in multiple IIHF World Championships, winning a gold medal in 2014.
- Selected to the NHL All-Star Game twice, in 2015 and 2017.
Did You Know?
His father, Andrei Tarasenko, was a professional hockey player and his first coach.
Tarasenko is an accomplished pianist and has played publicly.
He scored a goal in his first NHL shift, just 6 minutes and 13 seconds into his debut game.
“We just win the game. That's it.”
