The Winnipeg Jets have signed veteran middle Vladislav Namestnikov to a two-year contract extension value $3 million yearly. The $6 million whole deal retains the 32-year-old on the roster for the following two seasons, guaranteeing a precious piece of Winnipeg’s lineup stays put, and the group can flip to deal with a deal for Nikolaj Ehlers.
VLADDY’S STAYING HOME ? pic.twitter.com/l6gDzUtZNI
— Winnipeg Jets (@NHLJets) February 22, 2025
Enjoying largely as a second-line middle, Namestnikov has contributed 10 targets and 19 assists by 52 video games this season. Identified for his two-way play, he has supplied dependable even-strength hockey and ranks among the many prime 5 NHL forwards in defensive contributions. According to Benchrates, his present stage of play suggests he’s acting at a $6.2 million stage. It makes this contract a robust worth for the Jets.
Because the NHL wage cap is projected to rise, retaining a serviceable participant on the roster for $3 million per season is a brilliant transfer. He’s not reached his career-high numbers from 2017-18 since that season, however he’s a dependable secondary scorer for Winnipeg. He can play each middle and wing, which is useful. He additionally appears to comfortably discover a house in no matter function the Jets ask of him. That, too, has worth.
His earlier contract carried a $2 million AAV, making this new deal a notable enhance. That mentioned, he’s arguably earned it, and the cash coming into NHL groups over the following three seasons will see the salaries of each participant go up.
Vladislav Namestnikov Finished Means Shifting to Ehlers Deal
Initially drafted twenty seventh total by the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2011, Namestnikov has performed for a number of groups, together with the Dallas Stars, Detroit Crimson Wings, Colorado Avalanche, Ottawa Senators, and New York Rangers. Throughout 760 profession NHL video games, he has collected 327 factors. If he performs out this contract with Winnipeg, it would make for his longest stint with any NHL group, besides the Lightning, the place he performed elements of six seasons.
Conserving in Winnipeg means the group can now shift its focus to Ehlers. Ehlers is coming off a seven-year, $42 million contract with a $6 million cap hit. He has 48 factors in 47 video games this season and is probably going holding out for an enormous contract extension. There’s discuss that Ehlers could possibly be traded, however Murat Ates of The Athletic writes, “It appears clear Ehlers is simply too huge part of Winnipeg’s present success to be traded, however we thought the identical factor about Mikko Rantanen not too way back, too.”
Alex Iafallo, Mason Appleton, Neil Pionk and Haydn Fleury are additionally pending UFA’s
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