New York Rangers trade Vladislav Namestnikov to Ottawa Senators
According to Vladislav Namestnikov’s agent, Dan Milstein, the Ottawa Senators have traded for the New York Rangers forward.
The New York Rangers have been trying to find a new home for forward Vladislav Namestnikov. With the additions of Artemi Panarin and numerous young players, the veteran has seen his role reduced, playing just over 13 minutes per game in the first two games of the 2019-20 season. According to Namestnikov’s agent, the Rangers have found a new home for him, as the Ottawa Senators have acquired him.
Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun is reporting the deal is for a 2021 fourth-round pick and prospect Nick Ebert. Additionally, the Rangers are reportedly retaining $750,000 of Namestnikov’s salary. In 151 AHL games, Ebert, a defenseman, has 19 goals and 51 points. He has experience playing overseas as well.
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This is a pretty good trade for the Rangers. They had to clear Namestnikov’s $4 million cap hit and salary, as he was making a bit too much for his role as a bottom-six forward. This should clear a spot in the lineup for Vitaly Kravtsov or Filip Chytil, one of their top two young forwards in the AHL.
With Namestnikov’s cap hit mostly gone, the Rangers finally have some breathing room under the salary cap. They have over $4 million of cap space, which they could use to help improve their team. That’s before factoring in who the Rangers might call up to replace him.
For the Senators, it’s noteworthy Namestnikov is a free agent after the 2019-20 season. They are likely going to try to give him a new start and pump up his trade value a little bit as they try to trade him around the deadline.
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In 362 NHL games, Namestnikov has 66 goals and 92 assists for 158 points. He was drafted in the first round in the 2011 NHL Draft by the Tampa Bay Lightning. Namestnikov was traded to the Rangers in the 2018 blockbuster which sent then-Rangers captain Ryan McDonagh and forward J.T. Miller to Tampa. He played in 97 games for the Rangers, posting 35 points.