Hockey in Namestnikov’s blood Jets’ versatile forward latest in family to make a living playing shinny By: Mike McIntyre Posted: 6:38 PM CDT Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2023 Last Modified: 10:36 AM CDT Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023 Updates

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 01/11/2023 (1069 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

LAS VEGAS — Vladislav Namestnikov has a confession to make: He’s not a morning person. At all. In fact, he hates getting up at the crack of dawn so much that it nearly derailed his hockey career before it even began.

“At first I didn’t want to play. I didn’t like the early practices,” the now 30-year-old said in a wide-ranging chat. “My Mom forced me. She would shove me in the car and drive me.”

Just look at him now. Not only has he carved out a successful NHL career — he’ll play his 640th regular-season game on Thursday night against the Golden Knights — but Namestnikov might be the most interesting man in the Winnipeg Jets room.

He’s like the bearded guy in those Dos Equis beer commercials, but with blistering speed and a wicked wrist shot.

Where to begin? How about the fact his uncle is the Vyacheslav “Slava” Kozlov, who along with Sergei Fedorov, Vladimir Konstantinov, Slava Fetisov and Igor Larionov revolutionized the modern game in the 1990s and led the Detroit Red Wings to Stanley Cup championships in 1997 and 1998 under the guidance of Hall of Fame coach Scotty Bowman.

Namestnikov, who was born in Zhukovsky, Russia in 1992 but moved to Michigan when he was eight months old, had a front-row seat to the on-ice magic.

“They were a powerhouse,” he said. “That whole team. I used to go into the locker room. I was little, so brief memories, but I was a big fan.”

“He still watches the games and gives me advice to this day. Even though he was a defenceman he still has a hockey mind.”–Vladislav Namestnikov on his father, former NHLer, Evgeny Namestnikov

The family hockey roots run deep. Namestnikov’s father, Evgeny, was a defenceman drafted in the sixth round (117th-overall) by the Vancouver Canucks in 1991, ultimately playing 43 NHL games over six seasons (35 with Vancouver, six with the New York Islanders and two with the Nashville Predators).

“I witnessed him being a pro. I would see him train and saw what it takes,” said Namestnikov. “He still watches the games and gives me advice to this day. Even though he was a defenceman he still has a hockey mind.”

Another uncle, Ivan Novoseltsev, was drafted in the fourth round (95th-overall) by the Florida Panthers in 1997 and played five seasons in the NHL in both the Sunshine State and with the Phoenix Coyotes.

Namestnikov’s father also spent parts of eight years playing in both the AHL and IHL — from Hamilton to Syracuse to Lowell to Milwaukee to Hartford — which meant plenty of moving around. Then came the biggest change of all — a return to Russia in 2001 where dad would finish his career over the next five seasons.

“It was a culture shock. I didn’t know how to read or write in Russian. I didn’t know anything,” said Namestnikov. “I was eight, in grade three, and I had to kind of step-by-step learn that stuff, and Russian is not an easy thing to learn. It was quite a challenge.”

Namestnikov would return to North America in 2010 after the London Knights of the Ontario Hockey League selected him 20th overall. He could have stayed in Russia, as Torpedo of the KHL owned his rights, but he now had the NHL on his mind (thanks, Mom!).

It turned out to be the best decision he could have made. Namestnikov had two great junior years with 139 points (52 goals, 87 assists) in 131 games and was drafted in the first round, 27th-overall, by the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2011. He’d spend two years with the Syracuse Crunch of the AHL before making his big-league debut in 2014.

It wasn’t long before he was on a line with a couple guys you may have heard of — Steven Stamkos and Nikita Kucherov. A career-high 44 points (20 goals and 24 assists) in 62 games during the 2017-18 showed the offensive potential he has.

All that experience changing addresses as a kid helped prepare Namestnikov for life as an adult. He’s seemingly been everywhere, man, with NHL stops with the New York Rangers, Ottawa Senators, Colorado Avalanche, Detroit Red Wings, Dallas Stars, a return visit to Tampa, a trade last year to San Jose (on paper, only) and then an almost immediate swap to Winnipeg.

Jets head coach Rick Bowness and associate coach Scott Arniel played big roles in general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff obtaining him at the trade deadline last year (a fourth-round pick in 2025 went the other way), as they had previously coached him.

“I was in New York when we picked him up. Bones had him in Tampa (and in Dallas), We have a little bit of history,” said Arniel. “He’s played with some great players over the years, moved up and down the lineup. Vlad is a responsible player. We can jump him into the power play. He’s in our penalty kill as well. Use him in a lot of different aspects and he’s a guy you can rely on.”

The coaching staff heartily endorsed the decision to re-sign Namestnikov last summer to a two-year contract extension that pays him US$2 million per season and allows him to get settled in his latest hockey home for a while.

With Gabe Vilardi going down with a sprained MCL on Oct. 17, Namestnikov got the bump from fourth-line winger to second-line centre, where his line with Cole Perfetti and Nikolaj Ehlers has shown plenty of promise. They’re coming off a terrific game on Monday night in a 3-2 overtime loss to the New York Rangers.

Namestnikov has a goal and two assists through his first nine games this year.

He still speaks regularly with uncle Slava, who spends his summers living in Spain and the rest of the year as an assistant coach with powerhouse HC Dynamo Moscow of the KHL. Namestnikov also keeps in close contact with Kucherov, as the pair frequently play online video games together. “Fortnight, some Call of Duty,” he said.

He’s also keeping a close eye on his much younger brother, Max, who was born in Michigan in 2004 and is now in his third season playing in the OHL. After posting 54 points (35 goals, 19 assists) in 47 games with the Guelph Storm last year, Max has five goals and five assists in his first 10 games this season.

“When we don’t play I’ll watch his games. And I’ll go back and rewatch games and give him advice,” said Namestnikov. Although going undrafted, his sibling did attend Pittsburgh Penguins camp on a tryout and will continue to pursue his goal of having another member of the hockey clan make it to the biggest stage in the sport.”

Turns out Mother knew best, and Namestnikov is thankful she served as his personal alarm back in the day.

mike.mcintyre@freepress.mb.ca

X: @mikemcintyrewpg