Namestnikov the Jets’ Swiss Army knife

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This article was published 27/09/2023 (739 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

He’s lived a nomadic lifestyle for several seasons, so it’s easy to understand why Vladislav Namestnikov’s priorities going into free agency were centred around stability.

Given his age (closing in on 31) and experience (he has 630 NHL games on his resume, along with 53 more during the Stanley Cup playoffs), Namestnikov was open to any and all opportunities but also saw a pathway forward with the Winnipeg Jets, who acquired him just prior to the NHL trade deadline last March.

“Honestly, when free agency hit, Winnipeg offered a contract and we got it done,” said Namestnikov, who inked a two-year deal with an annual cap hit of US$2 million on July 1. “It wasn’t anything really too crazy. With free agency, thoughts always go through your head about where you’re going to end up. But I wanted to be back and I told my agent that. It’s somewhere I wanted to be.”

Getting a multi-year deal with a team he’s quite familiar with, a head coach he respects and the style of play he’s looking for simply made too much sense at this stage of his career.

“Hopefully, I can find a home here,” he said.

Namestnikov showed he can wear a wide variety of hats with the Jets last spring, whether he was moving up into a second-line centre role during the post-season after Mark Scheifele was injured or riding shotgun with Adam Lowry on a shutdown line.

Now that he’s here from the start of the season instead of hustling to get up to speed, it’s about finding out where he might fit best.

“When you get traded, everything is new and there are a lot of things going on,” said Namestnikov, who was originally chosen 27th overall in the 2011 NHL Draft by the Tampa Bay Lightning and has suited up for seven different organizations during his career. “It’s different when you go through a training camp with a team. You get more settled in, you have your own place and it’s easier that way, for sure.”

Namestnikov’s ability and willingness to bounce around the lineup is well documented, but it was reinforced on Wednesday morning when Nino Niederreiter said he was the very definition of a Swiss Army knife.

That’s high praise, especially when you consider Niederreiter actually hails from Switzerland and knows a thing or two about versatility.

“Just that guy you can elevate in the lineup whenever,” said Jets defenceman Brenden Dillon. “He’s got some bite to which you love to see. For Vladdy, he came from some great culture in Tampa, and you know he’s kind of learned to play the right way from guys like (Lightning captain Steven) Stamkos and their third- and fourth-line checking players. To just bring that experience he’s got as well as his skill and his work ethic has been a real welcome part to the lineup.”

Namestnikov is one of those guys who can be a pain to play against, so it’s not a surprise he quickly endeared himself to his new teammates upon his arrival.

“First of all, just what a great guy he is. Whether he’s playing up in the lineup, centre, left wing, right wing, PK, power play, down in the lineup, whatever, he’s just got such a great attitude,” said blue-liner Josh Morrissey. “He’s a quiet guy, but without really ever saying too much he’s a pretty big leader. He’s been around, he’s played with some great players. I think what he brings to the table as a guy is so key, but also what he does on the ice.

“He’s underrated. Playing against him, I didn’t know he was good as he is in all the little details of the game you start to appreciate when you’re playing with him in the D-zone as the low centre, things like that. He just always seems to be in the right spot and has a big hockey IQ. I didn’t know how good he was, and am certainly glad we were able to re-sign him. He’ll be key for us this season, for sure.”

In Wednesday’s preseason game against the Calgary Flames, Namestnikov got a promotion to a line with Cole Perfetti and Niederreiter.

While head coach Rick Bowness was adamant this wasn’t a sign the neck spasms Nikolaj Ehlers has been dealing with since early in training camp were worse than initially expected, it’s another opportunity for Namestnikov to show what he can do higher up in the lineup.

“That’s (how) he’s going to be used, just move him around,” said Bowness, noting Ehlers continues to skate and is making progress but won’t play Friday against the host Ottawa Senators.

Namestnikov opened camp with Rasmus Kupari and Morgan Barron on what figures to be the Jets fourth line, but he’s not playing the guessing game about who his linemates might be when the curtain rises on this new season on Oct. 11 in Calgary.

“Honestly, I’m not thinking too much. Just working my hardest and executing the little details of what (Bowness) wants. Just be open minded,” said Namestnikov, who can comfortably play all three forward positions as he prepares for his 11th NHL season. “When you play centre, there’s definitely more responsibility in the D-zone, but I’ve learned to adapt.”

“When you play centre, there’s definitely more responsibility in the D-zone, but I’ve learned to adapt.”–Vladislav Namestnikov

When it comes to the evolution of Namestnikov’s game, Bowness points to something not all young players can do early in their career, especially when they’re chosen in the first round as a skilled player.

“He’s got a good feel for the game. He’s very confident and he’s a tough little guy,” said Bowness. “I think he understands his role now. When he first came into the league, you want to make an impression. You get up on the top couple of lines, you want to stay there. Well, Vladdy has kind of accepted his role over the years. He’s not going to be a top-line guy every night.

“He can move up there and handle it, but he’s going to be moved around the lineup a little bit. When you have a guy like that he’s got to have lots of confidence in himself, which he has. He’s got to have a lot of hockey sense, which he does. And he’s got to have the skating and the skills to back it up, which he does.”

Namestnikov concedes it took him some time to adapt to a different style of play, pointing out the breakthrough came after he was traded for the first time in his career from the Lightning to the New York Rangers, where he was moved to a checking line with Ryan Strome and Jesper Fast by former Manitoba Moose head coach Alain Vigneault.

“I came into the league as a different player. I was all offence, but I had to kind of learn that (defensive) aspect of the game,” said Namestnikov. “You don’t always get put in those scoring roles, so you have to learn the other parts of the game.

“Over my career, I’ve done that and I take pride in that now. Over the years, you learn to enjoy the game, no matter what role you’re in.”

As much fun as it is to score or set up the winning goal, Namestnikov has embraced the responsibility of being asked to try and protect the lead as well.

“I want to be out there and I want to be put in those situations,” said Namestnikov, who had two goals and 10 points in 20 games for the Jets after being acquired from the San Jose Sharks. “To be that guy to block the shot in the last second or something like that.”

ken.wiebe@freepress.mb.ca

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