Winnipeg Jets · Center · Shoots L

Vladislav Namestnikov

Age 33 · 6'0" · 181 lb · Born in Zhukovskiy, RUS

Cap hit

$3M

2.9% of $104M cap

Term

1 yr

Through 2026-27, then UFA

Clause

None

Surplus value

+$1.196M

vs. $4.196M market estimate

Confirmed by the public signing announcement · source

2025-26 regular season

Goals

10.5% shooting

Assists

4 primary

Points

0.23 per game

TOI/GP

13:47

PP 1:28 · PK 0:41

xGF%

47.0

5v5, -8.4 vs. last yr

Game Score

-0.09

per game, goals above average

Faceoff %

40.9

92 W · 133 L

Plus/minus

-13

Blocks 37 · Hits 76

Game log

Last 5 games · NHL API

Game	G	SOG	HIT	BLK	TOI	PP	PK	FO	OZS%	GV	TK	+/-	GS
Apr 11 vs PHI · L 7-1	0	2	3	1	12:55	2:19	1:12	1-5	100	2	2	-2	-0.25
Apr 9 @ STL · W 3-2	0	3	1	0	12:27	0:32	2:04	6-2	75	0	0	0	-0.06
Apr 6 vs SEA · W 6-2	1	1	1	0	11:03	0:00	0:00	3-2	75	0	0	0	+0.49
Feb 27 @ ANA · OTL 5-4	0	0	0	0	3:51	0:50	0:00	—	—	0	0	0	-0.05
Feb 25 @ VAN · W 3-2	0	0	1	1	13:02	1:37	0:00	1-0	75	1	0	-1	-0.10

GS = our Game Score, goals above average. FO = faceoffs won-lost. OZS% = share of his 5v5 offensive and defensive zone faceoff starts that were in the offensive zone. GV/TK = giveaways/takeaways.

Advanced metrics

5v5 unless noted · 2025-26 · 661 min · percentile vs. NHL forwards

xGF%47.0%

31st percentile

Relative xGF%-1.2

41st percentile

HDCF%39.7%

10th percentile

CF%49.9%

58th percentile

Relative CF%+1.2

67th percentile

FF%50.1%

57th percentile

GF%36.4%

12th percentile

CF/6054.9

45th percentile

CA/6055.2

70th percentile

ixG/600.91

46th percentile

Goals above expected-2.0

30th percentile

IPP62.5%

41st percentile

PDO95.6

9th percentile

OZS%57.1%

65th percentile

xGF% is his team's share of 5v5 expected goals while he was on the ice, from our own expected goals model; HDCF% counts only high-danger chances (xG of 0.15 or more). IPP is the share of his team's 5v5 goals while he was on the ice that he scored or assisted on. Relative stats compare him with his team when he was off the ice. Goals above expected and ixG/60 use his own shots at all strengths. PDO and OZS% describe luck and deployment, so their bars are grey.

Play styleDefensive depth center

Trait percentiles vs. NHL centers · 2025-26

Namestnikov is a defense-first forward who plays a physical, committed game without the offensive touch to generate chances. He's most valuable as a checking line anchor who can be trusted in defensive situations.

defensive anchorphysical forecheckinglimited offense

Shooting volume: 39
Playmaking: 15
Zone entries(est.): 35
Forechecking: 59
Physicality: 64
Defensive impact: 83
Puck management: 19
Speed: 47

Where he shoots from

Slot 51% · Mid-range 33% · Perimeter 16%(114 unblocked shots)

Strengths

Elite defensive impact at 83rd percentile, a reliable low-risk option
Strong physicality at 64th percentile drives engagement in battles
Good forechecking at 59th percentile pressures opponents effectively

Watch-outs

Playmaking at 15th percentile limits his ability to create for linemates
Shot volume at 39th percentile reflects minimal offensive contribution
Puck management at 19th percentile shows struggles with possession efficiency

Similar style: Jake Evans (MTL), Alexander Kerfoot (NSH)

Built from play-by-play, shift data, and NHL EDGE tracking. Zone entries is an estimate (rush chances while he is on the ice) until tracking data is added.

Where his Game Score comes from

2025-26 · 60 GP · goals above average

Season total -5.6 goals, or -0.09 per game.

Even strength offense: -1.1
Even strength defense: +0.5
Power play: -0.6
Penalty kill: +0.2
Finishing: -2.0
Playmaking: -2.8
Penalties: +0.6
Faceoffs: -0.4

Game Score adds up a player's impact in goals compared with an average player given the same ice time: his share of expected goals for and against at even strength, on the power play, and on the penalty kill, plus finishing (goals minus expected goals), primary assists, penalties drawn and taken, and faceoffs. Goalies are measured by goals saved above expected.

By season

Regular season

Season	Team	GP	G	A	P	+/-	SOG	TOI/GP	FO%	GS/GP
2025-26	WPG	60	8	6	14	-13	76	13:47	40.9%	-0.09
2024-25	WPG	78	11	27	38	+20	94	15:05	46.1%	-0.07
2023-24	WPG	78	11	26	37	+17	95	14:28	36.3%	-0.03
2022-23	TBL, WPG	77	8	17	25	+5	108	12:37	37.6%	-0.08

Sentiment & chatter

Fans

—

Beat writers

—

Media

—

Fan, beat writer, and media scores, the 14-day trade chatter chart, and the latest mentions appear once sentiment scoring is switched on. Mentions are already being collected.

Age curve

NHL forwards · production index

202937

At 33, forwards typically produce 69% of their peak (age 24).

From 24 seasons of NHL results, adjusted for league scoring and save percentage in each era. Shaded bars are the seasons left on his contract.

Skating · NHL EDGE

2025-26, as of Oct 2

Top speed: 22.2 mph; 51st pct
20+ mph bursts: 72
Hardest shot: 77.2 mph; 13th pct
Distance: 134.4 mi
OZ time: 42.2%; 52nd pct
DZ time: 40.4%