The Winnipeg Jets have extended forward Vladislav Namestnikov for 2 years at an average annual value of $3M per season the club announced.
Namestnikov has 10 goals and 19 assists across 52 games for the Jets this season. Originally selected 27th overall by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft, the 32-year-old has spent the last 3 seasons in Winnipeg, suiting up for 160 contests during that span.
A veteran of over 760 NHL games, Namestnikov brings versatility to the Jets roster, as he’s able to play up and down the lineup as needed. Currently riding a 4 game point streak, the Russian forward is on pace to post his best statistical season since joining the Jets back in 2022-23.
“I love Winnipeg. Ever since I got here I’ve loved every second of it. I wanted to get something done and it was fairly quick, so I’m happy we could get something done,” Namestnikov told reporters following the announcement.
The $3M AAV is a slight raise from his current deal which sported a $2M hit per season. However, with the cap rising, and his solid two way play, it’s a tidy piece of business by Winnipeg to prevent the pending UFA from hitting the open market this summer.
The NHL leading Jets are next in action Saturday night against the St. Louis Blues.
Photo: Jenn G. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic license.