According to the latest NHL trade rumors, there’s speculation other teams could trade for New York Rangers forward Vladislav Namestnikov.
The New York Rangers are off to a slow start, as they currently have a 3-6-1 record through 10 games. Only the Detroit Red Wings (1-6-2) have fewer points than them in the Eastern Conference. With teams looking to add some skill to their rosters, teams are starting to turn to the blue shirts. The latest NHL trade rumors suggests the market is starting to heat up, and the Rangers could benefit from that.
During a recent Sportsnet 960 appearance, Sportsnet NHL insider Elliotte Friedman discussed the market.
"The Rangers… I think people are going to look at them. [Vladislav Namestnikov], he’s out there. And apparently the Rangers, as long as you’re not asking about their young core players, they’re a team that’s willing to listen."
More from Puck Prose
- Detroit Red Wings 2023 Rookie Camp Has Plenty of Ups and Downs
- This Columbus Blue Jackets rookie doesn’t want to be forgotten
- 2 trades the Boston Bruins must make to secure the Stanley Cup
- 3 reasons the Avalanche won’t win the Stanley Cup in 2024
- This is a big year for Alex Turcotte and the Los Angeles Kings
Friedman also notes there’s been a bit more chatter than normal this season, but that doesn’t necessarily mean anything’s going to happen. The NHL is a pretty well-balanced league so far, with a lot of teams hoping to contend and few teams out of it.
Take a look at the Metropolitan Division. Only four of the teams have 10 points. No team has gotten much separation from the other three, as only two points separate the Pittsburgh Penguins in first and the Washington Capitals in fourth.
There’s also the Pacific Division, with five teams hanging around 10 points. Like the Metro, only two points separate the first-place Vancouver Canucks and the fifth-place Calgary Flames. This could lead to teams being a bit more trigger happy to add talent than in previous years.
Namestnikov would be an interesting target for a number of teams. He just signed a two-year deal worth $4 million annually this summer. However, the Rangers are pushing to get their younger forwards more playing time. Thanks to a slump, Namestnikov is expendable.
Though he put up 48 points in 81 games during the 2017-18 season, 44 of those points came in 62 games with the Tampa Bay Lightning. Namestnikov was a part of the trade which sent Rangers captain Ryan McDonagh to the Bolts.
Since arriving in New York, he has just two goals and five points in 28 games. Namestnikov has also seen his playing time cut to just over 11 minutes per game after playing over 17 minutes per game with the Lightning.
For updated NHL trade rumors, be sure to check out our Rumors page.