Red Wings sign C Namestnikov to 2-year, $4 million contract

The Detroit Red Wings signed free agent center Vladislav Namestnikov to a $4 million, two-year contract on Sunday.

The Red Wings announced the move on their website. A person with direct knowledge of the deal told The Associated Press the contract’s value on condition of anonymity because it wasn’t revealed by the team.

Namestnikov has eight seasons of NHL experience after splitting last year between Ottawa and Colorado. The 27-year-old is reunited with Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman, who held the same title with Tampa Bay when the Lightning selected Namestnikov with the 27th pick in the 2011 draft.

Namestnikov had four goals and five points in 12 playoff games with Colorado this summer after being acquired in a trade with Ottawa in February. He enjoyed his best season in 2017-18, when he had 22 goals and 48 points split between Tampa Bay and the New York Rangers.

Overall, he has 83 goals and 106 assists for 189 points in 425 NHL games.

From Russia, he spent part of his childhood in Michigan. He is the son of former NHL defenseman Evgeny Namestnikov, and nephew of former Red Wings forward Vyachelsav Kozlov.

___

For more AP NHL coverage: https://apnews.com/NHL and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports