VANCOUVER, British Columbia — Vladislav Namestnikov spent most of this season on the left wing of the Lightning unit with Steven Stamkos in the middle and Nikita Kucherov on the right.
That suggests the 25-year-old forward, obtained by the Rangers as part of the package coming from Tampa Bay in Monday’s deal for Ryan McDonagh and J.T. Miller, has a fair amount of talent.
“He’s very skilled,” Henrik Lundqvist said of the winger, who was unable to make it for Tuesday’s practice, but is expected to arrive for Wednesday’s match against the Canucks. “The way he sees the game … it’s always great to get skilled guys.
“I look forward to having him here.”
Namestnikov, who also can play the middle, already has established career highs with 20 goals, 24 assists and 44 points through 62 games. He is in the final year of a contract under which he is earning $1,937,500 and is eligible for salary arbitration this summer that should nearly double his pay and cap hit. He will be eligible for unrestricted free agency following the 2019-20 season.
“He’s versatile, can play more than one position just like [Ryan] Spooner,” coach Alain Vigneault said. “He’s got good skill level, has good hands and can make plays.”
Cody McLeod, who skated on a fourth line with David Desharnais and Paul Carey at practice, is the likely candidate to sit when Namestnikov joins the lineup.
Jesper Fast, one of five remaining Blueshirts to have played for the 2014 Stanley Cup finalists, has never been in this kind of position of seniority.
“I feel pretty old right now,” the 26-year-old, two-time winner of the Players’ Player Award said. “This is the first time in my whole hockey career I’ve been one of the older guys, I’ve usually been one of the five or six youngest. “It’s a different experience, but I’m going to try and do what I can to be a leader for this time. I’ll play my game and lead by example.”