Exploring whether the Red Wings should re-sign Vladislav Namestnikov

Vladislav Namestnikov has always been tied to the Detroit Red Wings. The 29-year-old forward realized a childhood dream when he signed a two-year deal with the Red Wings in October 2020. “I grew up watching the Red Wings’ games, so it’s extremely special for me,” Namestnikov told reporters during the team’s training camp in advance of the 2020–21 season. “Every time I show up to the rink, it’s like ‘oh my God, dream come true.'” Namestnikov grew up a Red Wings fan for good reason. Born in the Moscow suburbs, he relocated to the Detroit metro area at a young age and was five years old when the “Russian Five”–led Wings won their second of back-to-back Stanley Cups in the late 1990s. Oh, and one more thing: Slava Kozlov, himself a noted “Russian Five” member, is Namestnikov’s uncle. A photo of Kozlov adorns the wall directly across from Namestnikov’s stall in the Red Wings’ locker room. Kozlov isn’t the only Red Wings icon who shares a connection with Namestnikov. After his first full season as the general mana