DETROIT >> The Red Wings have cut ties with forward Vladimir Tarasenko and reestablished their relationships with defenseman Albert Johansson and forward Jonatan Berggren.

The Wings on Monday traded Tarasenko, a disappointing free-agent signing last summer, to the Minnesota Wild for future considerations. No salary was retained in the trade.

The Wings signed Tarasenko, 33, to a two-year deal last July with a $4.75 million annual average value, hoping to cushion some of the offense the lineup lost in free agency.

But Tarasenko never found any traction and struggled from the start of the season. He had 11 goals and 22 assists in 80 games, with a minus-13 plus-minus rating, while averaging just under 15 minutes of ice time (14 minutes, 47 seconds).

The move opens even more salary cap space for the Wings, who now have over $20 million available to spend with the start of unrestricted free agency Tuesday at noon after trading Tarasenko and re-signing Johansson to a two-year extension with an annual average value of $1.125 million.

Johansson was eligible to become a restricted free agent.

After making the Wings out of training camp, Johansson sat much of the first three months of the season under former Derek Lalonde, unable to establish a regular spot in the lineup.

But the arrival of new coach Todd McLellan, and an injury to Jeff Petry that basically thrust Johansson into the lineup, changed the course of the season for Johansson, who saw extensive time on the second defensive pairing with Simon Edvinsson.

“The confidence grows and you’re kind of just riding on the wave a little bit after that,” Johansson said of getting a spot in the lineup. “I’m thankful for that opportunity.”

Johansson, 24, had nine points (three goals, six assists) in 61 games last season, with a minus-11 rating.

Berggren signed a one-year contract worth $1.825 million. Berggren also could have been a restricted free agent.

Berggren, 24, had 12 goals and 12 assists in 75 games with a minus-13 rating while mainly playing in the bottom-six forwards.

Forwards Elmer Soderblom is the Wings’ lone remaining potential restricted free agent.

Military duties

When forward Jesse Kiiskinen found out he was traded from Nashville to the Wings last summer, it was during a unique circumstance.

Kiiskinen, who the Wings acquired for prospect defenseman Andrew Gibson, was 10 minutes from going into a Finnish forest to begin a required military exercise when he found out he was a Red Wing.

“It was a big surprise,” said Kiiskinen, who was a 2023 third-round pick by Nashville. “I was there and almost leaving for the forest, about 10 minutes before we are going to the forest and living in a tent for a few days. I got the call and yeah, ‘You’ve been traded.’

“I was like, OK, great.”

Kiiskinen took everything in stride and took a few more calls from the Wings.

“I got a few calls from here and I was just a little bit like, ‘What happened?’” he said. “They didn’t realize that I started to see messages from my friends. It was fun.

“I finished (the required Finnish military training) like the end of last summer. I don’t have to go back anymore, and just able to focus on hockey.”

Kiiskinen believes he can bring to hockey something he learned from the military, mainly patience.

“Be confident if everything doesn’t go like you want,” Kiiskinen said.

Kiiskinen had 14 goals and 30 assists in 46 games with HPK Hameenlinna in Finland this past season.