On Monday, the New York Rangers traded forward Vladislav Namestnikov to the Ottawa Senators for defenseman Nick Ebert and a 2021 4th round pick. In the deal, the Rangers are retaining 18.75 percent or $750K, of his $4 million salary this season.
Namestnikov was a disappointment in terms of production for the Rangers.
Drafted 27th overall in the 1st round of the 2011 draft by the Tampa Bay Lightning, he was part of the trade that sent Ryan McDonagh and J.T. Miller to Tampa Bay, he wasn’t able to live up to the two-year, $8 million salary the Rangers gave him and as a result, was moved in essentially a salary dump-type trade.
Ebert was drafted 211th overall in the 7th round of the 2012 draft by the Los Angeles Kings. He skates in 49 games with Orebro of the SHL last season, registering 11 goals and 22 assists for 33 points.
For the Senators, this is essentially a risk-free gamble. If Namestnikov does well this season, he could earn himself another opportunity. If he does, the Senators can simply walk away at the end of the deal.
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