Red Wings: Vladislav Namestnikov signs team-friendly two-year contract
By Tyler Kotila
The Detroit Red Wings have added another forward to the flurry of offseason signings in the form of Vladislav Namestnikov on a two-year, $4 million contract.
Free agency in the National Hockey League (NHL) continues on as the Detroit Red Wings make yet another signing. They signed forward Vladislav Namestnikov to a two-year contract, worth $4 million in total.
It is not broken up as $2 million each year, rather $1.5 million in year one and $2.5 million in year two. Namestnikov spent time with three organizations in 2019-20, but most of that being in a Colorado Avalanche uniform.
Upon a further look at Namestnikov’s path in the NHL, it can be noted that he was also a member of the Tampa Bay Lightning for five seasons. He was another one of Steve Yzerman’s players from his days in Tampa Bay, furthering the point that he is trying to follow his past blueprints once again.
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In 2019-20, Namestnikov played in 65 total games, scoring 17 goals and adding 14 assists for 31 total points. He was also a power-play and short-handed unit member this past season.
While he was a minus-5 in terms of plus/minus, he still can be another effective signing for the organization.
Not to mention that Namestnikov grew up as a fan of the Red Wings, and now he will get the chance to be a part of this organization as Yzerman continues to work on the rebuild.
Namestnikov is someone who can help fill holes in the middle-six grouping of forwards on this team.
As a left-handed shooting center, Namestnikov could slot in on the second line alongside Robby Fabbri and Tyler Bertuzzi.
Depending on how Blashill wants to divvy up the talent between Tyler Bertuzzi, Robby Fabbri, Dylan Larkin, and Anthony Mantha will depend if Namestnikov slots in as a second-line center or third-line player.
It seems like Namestnikov might fit well as a center between Fabbri and Filip Zadina; however, he might find himself in the third line group more often than not. The Red Wings have made the most out of their offseason signings, being incredibly smart while still filling in cap space.
An early look at the signings looks as if the Red Wings are going to be building in the right direction with the number of players who will either be moved as rentals over the next two years or just made into cost-effective additions.
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Yzerman is setting himself up for success, and it has only been helped by the moves he has made since coming to the Detroit Red Wings organization.