Winnipeg Jets bringing back veteran center, adding intriguing netminder

Vladislav Namestnikov found a fit with the Winnipeg Jets late in the 2022-23 season and evidently liked it. According to TSN’s Darren Dreger, Namestnikov has re-upped with the Jets on a two-year contract carrying a $2 million cap hit.

Namestnikov, 30, came over to the Jets at the NHL Trade Deadline on March 3. The Tampa Bay Lightning had traded him to the San Jose Sharks two days earlier and San Jose flipped him to Winnipeg for a 2025 fourth-round pick. Namestnikov picked up 10 points in 20 games with Winnipeg down the stretch, playing primarily with Nikolaj Ehlers and Blake Wheeler. With Namestnikov on the ice at 5-on-5, the Jets generated more than 56 percent of the expected goals and outscored opponents 14-8.

Namestnikov has never lived up to the promise he showed in his first go-round with the Tampa Bay Lightning, peaking with a career-best 22 goals and 46 points in 2017-18, but he has settled in as a versatile middle-six forward who can play center or the wing and contribute on special teams. He led the NHL in shorthanded goals in 2019-20 with four.

Another homecoming happened Saturday in Winnipeg, with UFA goaltender Laurent Brossoit inking a one-year contract with a $1.75 million cap hit. Brossoit, 30, spent three mostly effective seasons with the Jets as Connor Hellebuyck’s backup from 2018-19 through 2020-21. Brossoit signed with the Vegas Golden Knights as a free agent two years ago and while he struggled in 2021-22, he was dynamite this past season, going 7-0-3 with a 2.17 goals-against average and .927 save percentage. He shone for Vegas during the stretch run to the postseason and opened the playoffs as their starting netminder, but a groin tear knocked him in during the second round. Adin Hill took over, and the Golden Knights went all the way to their first Stanley Cup.

It’s not a guarantee that Brossoit will be a backup this season. With Hellebuyck on the trade block, there’s a path to significant playing time for Brossoit – assuming his groin co-operates.