Namestnikov working through cold snap

SUNRISE, Fla. — Vladislav Namestnikov was as surprised as you probably were.

When you’ve been limited to one solitary goal in the past 40 games and the puck bounces off the end boards in your direction with the net vacated, it’s natural for his eyes to get wide.

The Winnipeg Jets forward had put himself in prime position to take advantage of a lucky bounce against the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday, but as he went to shoot the puck into the yawning cage, Jack Hughes came out of nowhere to deflect the puck out of harm’s way.

In some ways, the play was an example of the cold snap that Namestnikov has been working his way through.

“It’s been tough,” Namestnikov said during a one-on-one interview at the Florida Panthers practice rink on Friday afternoon. “It’s not where I want to be in my game, I guess. I feel like I’m doing all the right things, but it’s just not going in the net.

“Sometimes things like this happen and you’ve just got to work through them. I’ve just got to do better. You’ve got to find a way.”

After splitting the first two games of this four-game swing, the Jets are back in action on Saturday against the Florida Panthers.

A consistent double-digit goal scorer throughout the bulk of his NHL career, Namestnikov got off to a red-hot start to open the season, notching six goals and seven points through 12 games.

He was flourishing in a second-line winger role and appeared to be well on his way to a 22-goal campaign, which would have matched his career-high, set in 2017-18 when he played for the Tampa Bay Lightning but was acquired at the deadline by the New York Rangers.

“Sometimes you have a good start and this happens,” said Namestnikov. “I never paid too much attention to setting goals for goals or assists. At the same time, you do want to get as many as possible.

“Sometimes, you’re not playing well and (the goals) are going in for you. Sometimes you’re playing well and they’re not going in.”

Suddenly, things went ice cold for Namestnikov, as he went through a dry spell that included 29 games without a goal and just one assist during that span.

There was a stretch where scoring chances were tough to come by and confidence with the puck on his stick was in short supply.

In an effort to try and get Namestnikov going, Jets head coach Scott Arniel moved Namestnikov back to centre, figuring that playing his natural position might help the process.

Yet the slump lingered, leaving Namestnikov to continue the search for answers. At one point, he went 17 games without a point.

He was moved down the lineup, back to the wing and eventually found himself as a healthy scratch for a game on Jan. 8, when Danny Zhilkin made his NHL debut.

It’s been another 10 games without finding the back of the net, though Namestnikov has four assists and has been generating more opportunities of late, which is often the first step towards a hot streak.

Has Namestnikov ever endured a slump as long as this one at any other point during his 12 prior NHL seasons?

“Not like this, no,” he said. “But it’s part of the game and part of life. I’ve got to keep finding ways to contribute, if it’s not on the scoresheet. There are other ways to help the team, so I’ve got to find a way to do that.”

Along with his defensive acumen, Namestnikov recognizes that providing the physical side of his game on a consistent basis is one of those areas.

“It’s just being a pest out there,” said Namestnikov, who has 13 points in 52 games this season. “I can get under an opponent’s skin, I can get on the forecheck and be responsible. That’s the main thing. Play simple and be responsible.

“I’ve got to keep working through it, it’s going to come eventually.”

Since his arrival in a trade deadline deal with the San Jose Sharks in March of 2023, Namestnikov has proven to be a good fit and is someone who can bounce freely between all four lines and be an effective player.

Just last season, Namestnikov spent most of the season at centre on the second line with Nikolaj Ehlers and Perfetti, notching 11 goals and 38 points.

“It’s an advantage that you can play anywhere,” said Namestnikov, originally chosen in the first round (27th overall) by the Lightning. “I got traded and had to learn to be a shutdown guy in New York and I take that as a badge of honour. I like being in that role, where a coach can rely on me.”

Arniel’s history with Namestnikov goes back to when he was an associate coach with the Rangers and he knows what he looks like when he’s at his best.

“After he sat out, I thought he came back and battled and competed,” said Arniel. “I still think that’s his game. When he does that, he’s a burr in the opposition’s side. To me, when he’s on, he’s doing that stuff all the time.

“I like his game compared to where it was before the other slump. He’s one of those glue guys that can consistently bring a steady game.”

The Jets and Panthers duelled in Winnipeg last week, with the two-time defending Stanley Cup champions earning a 2-1 shootout victory in a tight-checking affair.

The Panthers remain below the playoff line in the East, while the Jets now face a double digit deficit in the Western Conference standings, so the urgency level figures to be high for both teams.

“We’ve just got to find a way to bounce back,” said Jets captain Adam Lowry, who skated with Gabe Vilardi and Perfetti during Friday’s workout. “(The Panthers) play a similar brand of hockey as these guys, right? They play hard and have a lot of skill, but systematically, a really tight team. You know they’re going to compete hard, so we’ll have to bring that energy level.”

MATCH MAKER?

On the latest edition of 32 Thoughts, NHL insider Elliotte Friedman suggested that the Jets and Detroit Red Wings could be in some discussions about a potential trade.

Although he didn’t go into specifics, the Red Wings look like they could be in the market for a defenceman that plays with bite (Logan Stanley or Luke Schenn would fit the bill) or a forward to provide some secondary scoring.

Even with the slump he’s dealing with, Namestnikov was with the Lightning when Steve Yzerman was the general manager there, so he could be a player of interest.

And given his Stanley Cup pedigree, seven even-strength goals, ability to kill penalties and his low salary cap number (US$1 million), Tanner Pearson would make some sense as well.

winnipegfreepress.com/kenwiebe