Detroit Red Wings sign center Vladislav Namestnikov to two-year deal

The Detroit Red Wings have signed center Vladislav Namestnikov to a two-year, $4-million deal Saturday.

The deal was first reported by Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman.

Namestnikov, 27, has struggled to find an NHL home bouncing between the New York Rangers, Ottawa Senators and Colorado Avalanche all in the last year.

This past season he scored 17 goals and 31 points in 65 games with those three clubs. He appeared in 12 playoffs games with the Avs scoring four goals and one assist. Now, Namestnikov has found a home for the next two seasons in Detroit.

Drafted in the first round of the 2011 draft by the Tampa Bay Lightning, Namestnikov has appeared in 425 NHL games scoring 83 goals and 189 points. According to hockeyviz.com, he contributed offence at a five percent rate below league average and defence at a three percent rate below league average.

With that being said, those numbers appear to be an anomaly off his career average.

On Twitter: @zjlaing