Vlad Namestnikov has 4 goals and 10 assists this season for the Rangers while averaging 14:23 per game and putting 41 shots on net.
His .48 points per game this season is right around his career average of .47 points per game.
- In 11 games in October, he had 1 goal, 2 assists, a minus 6 rating and 11:54 per game.
- In 13 games in November, he had 1 goal, 5 assists, an even rating and 16:30 per game.
- In 5 games in December, so far, he has 2 goals, 3 assists, a plus two rating and 14:24 per game.
David Quinn said after Monday’s win that Namestnikov has been a “good player” for the past two months and that he doesn’t want his “skill to get lost in how hard he has been playing.”
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Quinn added “we are not trying to turn him into a fourth-line checker, he can create offense with his speed and has good hands and can shoot it. If you add that physical element and being hard on pucks he is going to be more productive offensively and be able to play different roles and that is what he has done.”
The Rangers coach continued, “boy he’s really been good for us. He’s a good player, great kid, love having him here, good teammate. We are lucky to have him.”
This season, at 5 on 5, Namestnikov has played 156 minutes with Mika Zibanejad, 97 minutes with Jesper Fast and 91 minutes with Brett Howden.
Namestnikov said that he knew in training camp that he needed to be more engaged and win the 50/50 battles all over the ice. (Newsday)
He said that he knows what the coaches expect of him and that he goes out on the ice and just tries to be himself. (Newsday)