Hockey the family business for development camp invite Namestnikov

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This article was published 05/07/2024 (434 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Max Namestnikov is no stranger to the world of professional hockey.

Winnipeg Jets fans know all about older brother, Vladislav, who has spent the last two seasons with the club and has played 708 games in his NHL career. Max, who is 12 years younger and still playing junior, is a bit of an unknown product around here.

At least until this week, when the Jets invited the undrafted Michigan-born forward to participate in their annual summer development camp, which runs through Sunday at the Hockey For All Centre.

Namestnikov, 20, is hoping to make a positive impression and further develop his skills, perhaps ultimately following in his brother’s footsteps in the Jets organization.

He has big shoes to fill, along with a notable bloodline to lean on for advice that extends beyond his big-league brother.

One of Namestnikov’s uncles is Slava Kozlov, who was a member of the famed Russian Five along with Sergei Fedorov, Vladimir Konstantinov, Slava Fetisov and Igor Larionov. Kozlov helped the Detroit Red Wings win Stanley Cup championships in 1997 and 1998 under Hall of Fame coach Scotty Bowman.

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

Namestnikov’s father, Evgeny, was a defenceman who played 43 NHL games over six seasons (35 with the Vancouver Canucks, six with the New York Islanders and two with the Nashville Predators).

“They gave me lots of tips throughout the season,” Namestnikov said Friday. “They watch all my games and usually it’s a phone call after the game and they give me a bunch of advice, something that I did good and something that I did bad.”

The centre has spent the past four seasons in the OHL and just finished his second season with the Guelph Storm, where he had 50 points (24 goals, 26 assists) in 68 games.

“I like to make my teammates better around me,” said Namestnikov. “I like to know where they’re at all times on the ice and try to find them for little slip passes or backdoor plays. Another quality is my shot. I like to shoot the puck a lot.”

Although he stands 5-8, Namestnikov makes up for his lack of size with his speed.

“He moves real fast,” said Manitoba Moose head coach Mark Morrisson, who is among the on-ice instructors this week putting 17 Jets draft picks and 18 free-agent invitees through their paces. “He’s got some offence to his game, for sure. He’s got a lot of energy and he’s got a great personality around here, too. He brings a lot of energy.”

Namestnikov has also been a part of development camps for the Vancouver Canucks and the Carolina Hurricanes in the past two years.

“Hard to compete,” Namestnikov said of the previous experiences as an 18 and then 19-year-old. “The other ones that I’ve been to, Vancouver and Carolina, they go hard. I like it in Winnipeg because you get to work on a lot of skill.”

So what’s next for Namestnikov? He’s currently set to go back to Guelph to play his final year with the Storm, but he plans to get the most out of the Jets rookie camp and is prepared for anything — whether it’s an opportunity with the Moose or elsewhere on a professional tryout or even an AHL contract at this point.

“Seeing what the player development guys have to say, coaches, get a lot of feedback,” said Namestnikov on what he wants to get out of camp. “Honestly just pick up on the advice that they give you and bring it back to juniors or wherever I go next.”

No matter how it plays out, Namestnikov will continue to look up to his older brother, watching his games when their schedules align, and training and living with Vladislav in the summer in Michigan.

The younger Namestnikov was in front of his TV when Vladislav took a deflected puck to the left side of his face in Game 4 against the Colorado Avalanche in the playoffs in April. He was taken to hospital in Denver suffering a fractured cheekbone, and missed Game 5 which the Jets lost to end their season.

“I was watching it live and I was in shock. I didn’t move for like three minutes because he wasn’t moving. It was very scary but I’m glad he’s okay,” recalled Namestnikov.

“I’m very fortunate to have a brother in the NHL. He gets to teach me a lot throughout the summer and then get ready for the season.”

zoe.pierce@freepress.mb.ca