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Vladislav Namestnikov

Vladislav Namestnikov Generating Trade Interest

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It’s not often that a forward averaging just ten minutes a night and with just one point in his first eight games generates a lot of trade interest, but that might be the case for New York Rangers center Vladislav Namestnikov. Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet writes in his latest 31 Thoughts column that there is some interest in Namestnikov and that the Rangers may be willing to listen. The 25-year old center has been pushed further and further down the lineup this season for the Rangers, and played just 13 shifts (9:25) on Tuesday night.

Though he may not be performing well this year, there’s good reason to believe Namestnikov can still be an effective player in the NHL. Originally selected 27th overall by the Tampa Bay Lightning, he eventually grew into a talented offensive player that lined up alongside Steven Stamkos and Nikita Kucherov for a time. Though skating next to those two superstars helped along his numbers, his underlying possession statistics have always been relatively good and he’s at least shown that he can play up in the lineup if given the chance.

Part of the reason the Rangers may have decided to move on from him as a core piece is the fact that Namestnikov is scheduled to be an unrestricted free agent following the 2019-20 season. Signed to a two-year, $8MM contract in July, he may be both too expensive and slightly too old to really figure into their rebuild. He’ll be looking for a long-term deal when he hits the open market—provided his play rebounds in New York or elsewhere—just while the Rangers are ready to start competing again with their young core. Just like Kevin Hayes, who has made it clear he’d rather stay with the Rangers, there might just not be room for them on the next iteration of the team.

Vladislav Namestnikov Signs Two-Year Contract With New York Rangers

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The New York Rangers have agreed to terms with Vladislav Namestnikov on a two-year contract that will pay him $4MM a season. There had been rumors earlier in the day that Namestnikov was considering a return to the KHL, but agent Dan Milstein of Gold Star Hockey immediately shot them down and indicated the deal was in the works. Namestnikov will instead remain in New York and try to find some chemistry with the team that acquired him midseason.

After being sent by the Tampa Bay Lightning as part of the package to acquire Ryan McDonagh, Namestnikov struggled in New York. With just four points in 19 games, he finished his season with 48—which was still a career high, but much less than he was on pace for at the time of the trade. Of course, in Tampa Bay Namestnikov had spent much of the season on a line with Steven Stamkos and Nikita Kucherov, something he won’t be afforded during his time with the Rangers. Instead, they’ll rely on him to create offense on his own and help round out a forward group that has a lot of potential, but were very inconsistent last season.

Interestingly the 25-year old will be an unrestricted free agent at the end of this deal, meaning he could turn into trade bait again should the Rangers struggle to rebound from their disappointing season in 2017-18. There’s a ton of talent in the Russian forward, who can play center or wing, but he hasn’t quite been able to put it all together for a full season. If that happens in New York, they’ll have a very valuable asset on their hands, or a key player to build around on a free agent deal.

For now, a $4MM cap hit puts him as the fourth highest-paid forward on the team and he’ll be expected to produce like it. We’ll have to wait and see if he ends up playing center, or if Filip Chytil and Lias Andersson’s development ends up pushing Namestnikov to the wing once again.

Free Agent Notes: Holden, Ellis, Namestnikov, Wilson

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The Vegas Golden Knights already surprised a few when they reached out and stole Paul Stastny away from Western Conference rival Winnipeg. However, the Golden Knights are apparently not done as The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun reports that Vegas is the front-runner for unrestricted free agent defenseman Nick Holden.

Holden, who spent time with both the New York Rangers and Boston Bruins last season, would be a solid depth defenseman that could add to Vegas’ core. he averaged 19:00 ATOI between both clubs, but only posted four goals and 17 points on the year. However, the 31-year-old may be starting to show a decline in skills as he was a 34-point player in 2016-17 with the Rangers.

Incidentally, Holden is being pursued by two teams as the Boston Bruins are also vying for the blueliner’s services, according to Sportsnet’s Mark Spector. The Bruins, after all, gave up a third-round pick and low-end prospect Rob O’Gara at the deadline.

  • LeBrun also mentions that while Nashville Predators defenseman Ryan Ellis, who will be a unrestricted free agent in one year, can sign an extension as of today. However, the scribe writes that Nashville isn’t there yet. They intend to reignite talks with Ellis and his representatives within the next one to two weeks. Nashville wants to keep Ellis in the fold at all costs as the team has put major emphasis on having a dominant four defense. The team already has P.K. Subban ($9MM AAV) and Mattias Ekholm ($3.75MM AAV) locked up for four years, while Roman Josi ($4MM AAV) is signed for another two years.
  • The New York Rangers can breathe easier after the agent for restricted free agent Vladislav Namestnikov, Dan Milstein, refuted rumors that the forward was leaving for the KHL. Namestnikov, who was acquired from Tampa Bay at the trade deadline, but saw his playing time drop once he arrived in New York. After averaging 17:30 of ATOI as a Lightning, his playing time dropped to 15:43, along with his offensive production. After potting 20 goals with Tampa Bay, he managed just four points in 19 games with the Rangers. However, Milstein insists the rumors are not true and that Namestnikov believes playing in the NHL is a privilege and honor and an extension is in the works with the New York Rangers.
  • Mike Harrington of The Buffalo News reports the Buffalo Sabres are currently working on re-signing winger Scott Wilson. The 26-year-old was picked up in a December trade this last season from the Detroit Red Wings and played a regular role as a bottom-six forward. After not scoring a point in 17 games with Detroit, he tallied six goals and 14 points in 49 games in Buffalo.

Rangers Likely To Trade A Center This Offseason

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With many teams in the league looking for center help this offseason and seeing few options on the free agent market, the trade market seems to be the best way to fill that heavily in-demand. Just earlier this week, the Montreal Canadiens traded Alex Galchenyuk, who failed to succeed at the center position for the team in previous years, to Arizona. The Coyotes have already stated they intend to move him back to center in hopes that he can make the conversion and fill their No. 2 center hole.

The New York Rangers seem to be in a unique situation. Despite the franchise suddenly finding themselves in rebuilding mode, the one thing the Rangers have plenty of is reliable centers. In fact, the team has eight potential centers currently on the roster, including Mika Zibanejad, Kevin Hayes, Lias Andersson, Filip Chytil, Vladislav Namestnikov, Ryan Spooner, Boo Nieves and Brett Howden. While some of those eight will be forced to move to the wing position, there is also a strong possibility that the team will move at least one of those centers during the offseason, and very possibly, before next week’s draft.

Larry Brooks of the New York Post writes that while the team has a solid combination of Zibanejad, Chytil, Hayes and Andersson currently penciled in as their top four centers next season, that’s a logjam at that position that likely would not aid the development of Chytil and Andersson, two teenagers who need as much playing time as possible at the NHL level. Andersson especially, last year’s No. 7 pick in the 2017 draft, needs time on the ice and a fourth-line role isn’t going to cut it.

The scribe writes that Hayes may be available after quietly putting up a career-high 25 goals while playing center for New York last year. The restricted free agent is in line for a potential five-year deal worth about $4.5MM per year based on his success last season and there is no guarantee that Hayes would earn the No. 2 center spot with all this depth. Regardless, Hayes would be a highly coveted commodity for many teams who are in desperate need for help at that position.

The key for the Rangers is to trade him straight out for help on their blueline, according to Brooks, who adds that New York is unlikely to use Hayes as part of a package to move up in the draft. The team’s biggest need is at defense and there are many teams that could use a center and have defense to trade, including the Calgary Flames who might be ready to move Dougie Hamilton.

Trade Deadline Recap: Eastern Conference

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After a month of lead up, a sprinkling of trades over the last week or so, and a wild deadline day today, NHL teams are done with transactions for the 2017-18 NHL season. Here are the deals that improved contenders in the Eastern Conference:

Deadline Day

Tampa Bay Lightning receive:
D Ryan McDonagh
F J.T. Miller

New York Rangers receive:
F Vladislav Namestnikov
F Brett Howden
D Libor Hajek
2018 first-round pick
Conditional 2019 second-round pick

 

Columbus Blue Jackets receive:
F Thomas Vanek

Vancouver Canucks receive:
F Tyler Motte
F Jussi Jokinen

 

Columbus Blue Jackets receive:
D Ian Cole

Ottawa Senators receive:
F Nick Moutrey
2020 third-round pick

 

New Jersey Devils receive:
F Patrick Maroon

Edmonton Oilers receive:
F J.D. Dudek
2019 third-round pick

 

New York Islanders receive:
F Chris Wagner

Anaheim Ducks receive:
F Jason Chimera

 

Boston Bruins receive:
F Tommy Wingels

Chicago Blackhawks receive:
Conditional 2019 fifth-round pick

 

Pittsburgh Penguins receive:
F Josh Jooris

Carolina Hurricanes receive:
F Greg McKegg

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Senators, Karlsson Trying To Get Trade Done By Deadline

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The Ottawa Senators and Erik Karlsson are both working hard on making a deal happen by the trade deadline with the Tampa Bay Lightning being the leading candidate to acquire the star defenseman, according to Elliotte Friedman Saturday on Hockey Night in Canada.

“Whatever gets said, the belief is the Ottawa Senators want to try to make this happen and Erik Karlsson wants it to happen, and they have been grinding away in the last two or three days to see if they can,” Friedman said. “Obviously Tampa Bay is a leading contender, I think they’ve thrown several different proposals at each other.”

While negotiations haven’t reached their final stages, other teams have also shown interest in Karlsson, including the Nashville Predators, San Jose Sharks and the Vegas Golden Knights.

The idea that Karlsson could end up in Tampa Bay is not unrealistic considering he is close friends with fellow Swede Victor Hedman. The two playing on the Lightning’s blueline could be the ultimate piece for a team that want to win a Stanley Cup this year. However, what would be the cost? While Tampa Bay has quite a lot of solid prospects they could deal, Ottawa would almost definitely be looking for a major piece from the team’s active roster with names such as Brayden Point, Yanni Gourde and Vladislav Namestnikov, rumored to be names that Ottawa would want back.

“I’m sure the names Brayden Point and Yanni Gourde have come up, but at the very least it might even cost them [Vladislav] Namestnikov and we know how important he is to the first line in Tampa Bay,” said Kypreos on the same segment of Hockey Night in Canada. “But Ottawa wants a major piece back.”

Friedman added in the segment that he believes if Ottawa is willing to accept Namestnikov as the centerpiece of the deal, “that’s something that Tampa would do.” However, the real question is what else would Ottawa want? The team is unlikely to part with 19-year-old Mikhail Sergachev, who seems to have turned the corner after recent struggles.

You also have to factor in the injury to Ondrej Palat, who is out for another two or three weeks with what many believe is a high ankle sprain. Does the team have enough depth to survive without a Namestnikov, who is a major influence on the team’s first line. The 25-year-old is having a breakout season with 20 goals and 24 assists in 62 games this year. He is only making $1.94MM this year, but will be a restricted free agent next year, which could make him harder to sign for the future.

Devils’ Miles Wood Suspended Two Games For Boarding

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1:01 p.m. — The Department of Player Safety have suspended Wood for two games for boarding Namestnikov.

8:53 a.m. — The Department of Player Safety announced they will hold a hearing today for the New Jersey Devils Miles Wood for his boarding of Tampa Bay Lightning forward Vladislav Namestnikov during Saturday’s game. Watch the video here.

Early in the second period, Wood appeared to leave his feet and delivered a hit to Namestnikov from behind, sending his head into the boards. To make matters worse, Tampa Bay teammate Andrej Sustr attempted to come to Namestnikov’s aid, but instead took a punch to the visor and sustained a bloody face.

Wood, who has had no previous suspensions, was given a two-minute minor penalty for boarding. He also received a two-minute minor for roughing for the fight with Sustr, which the Tampa Bay defenseman also received. To make matters worse for Tampa Bay, Wood also scored the game-winning goal.

Erik Johnson Suspended For Two Games

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6:19 PM: Johnson has been suspended for two games, the Department of Player Safety announced (video link).  He will be eligible to return on December 23rd against Arizona.

2:06 PM: The Department of Player Safety tweeted they will hold a hearing today for Colorado Avalanche defenseman Erik Johnson for his boarding of Tampa Bay’s Vladislav Namestnikov on Saturday. The incident happened late in the second period as Johnson cross-checked Namestnikov, who fell hard into the boards behind the Colorado net. The veteran defenseman received a slashing minor, a boarding major and a game misconduct at the time.

The Lightning have recently gone through this as the team just lost veteran forward Ryan Callahan after crashing into the boards against the Arizona Coyotes. He was placed on injured reserve and could be out for some time.

“Dangerous play,” said Tampa Bay coach Jon Cooper. “You just hold your breath on those. Got a little fortunate with Vladdy, obviously didn’t get as fortunate with Callahan.”

Namestnikov returned in the final period and still managed to log 18:05 of ice time Saturday and seems to be OK. The 25-year-old is having a breakout year as he has 13 goals and 15 assists on the team’s top line alongside Steven Stamkos and Nikita Kucherov.

Johnson refused to comment on the hearing, according to Denver Post’s Mike Chambers.

 

Atlantic Notes: Bertuzzi, Namestnikov, Gauthier

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Although he had only a minor role with the Red Wings last season and has waiver exemption remaining, the team expects winger Tyler Bertuzzi to break camp with the big club in October, writes Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press.  Bertuzzi played in just seven games with Detroit in 2016-17 and averaged just nine minutes per game but played quite well with AHL Grand Rapids in the playoffs where he collected 19 points (9-10-19) in 19 contests.

St. James adds that there are those in the organization who believe the 22-year-old would be best suited to start in the minors once again but both GM Ken Holland and head coach Jeff Blashill are among those who would like to see him start with the Red Wings.  The fact that Bertuzzi is on a league minimum contract will certainly help his case considering their current salary cap situation.  However, because of that and his waiver exemption, there’s a good chance that Bertuzzi will be forced to go back and forth a lot during the year in an effort to open up a bit of wiggle room during the season.

More from the Atlantic Division:

  • Lightning forward Vladislav Namestnikov has switched agencies as he has joined Gold Star Sports Management according to agent Dan Milstein (Twitter link). He previously had been with Newport.  The timing of this is notable as Namestnikov is entering the final year of his bridge contract and will be set to enter restricted free agency with arbitration rights next summer.  His qualifying offer will check in just north of $1.93MM.
  • Although Frederik Gauthier’s recovery from his hamstring surgery back in May is going well, there remains no firm timetable as to when he could return, notes Kevin McGran of the Toronto Star. He resumed skating for the first time last week.  At the time of the surgery, the speculation was that it would be at least six months before he’d be ready to return to game action.  When he does recover, the former first round pick will likely be headed for the AHL level once again.

Tampa Bay Notes: Trades, Killorn, Namestnikov

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With the Tampa Bay Lightning having loads of offseason questions after not making the playoffs this past year, a lot is up in the air when it comes to their expansion protection plans. Regardless, Tampa Bay Times’ Joe Smith writes that general manager Steve Yzerman has said that he would like to work out a side deal with the Las Vegas Golden Knights, but said he isn’t sure he can as the Lightning may have too many good assets available.

The scribe writes to not be surprised, however, if the Lightning make a big trade, possibly for a defenseman in the next week before protection rosters must be turned in on Saturday. He mentions both the Anaheim Ducks and the Minnesota Wild as likely trade partners as both teams must move a defenseman as well. One suggestion would be to make an agreement with Las Vegas to select a defenseman from another team in the expansion draft and then package them to Tampa Bay in a bigger deal.

  • In a mailbag, Smith writes that he expects Tampa Bay to try to move center Alex Killorn before a no-trade clause kicks in. He signed a new seven-year deal last offseason, but a full-trade clause takes effect for the next three years on July 1. Then it goes to a modified no-trade clause for the final three years. Despite scoring a career high in goals (19) during the first year of that seven-year deal, the team may want to take advantage of his value and package him and his $4.45MM contract to solve some cap issues that the team must deal with. If the team doesn’t trade Killorn and he gets exposed for the expansion draft, don’t be shocked if Las Vegas head coach Gerard Gallant might take Killorn, who he coached for Team Canada at the World Championships this year.
  • Smith also mentions several players who are possible expansion picks by the Golden Knights, assuming Tampa Bay can’t pull off a side deal with them. Center Vladislav Namestnikov would be an obvious choice, if left unprotected, as well as restricted free agents Slater Koekkoek or Jake Dotchin. Namestnikov is just 24 and has scored 24 goals in the last two seasons. Koekkoek and Dotchin, both 23-year-old defensemen, each have promise. Koekkoek has only played in 41 total games, while Dotchin recorded 11 assists in 35 games in his rookie campaign.

 

 

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