The Avalanche on Monday morning acquired Russian forward Vladislav Namestnikov from the Ottawa Senators for a 2021 fourth-round pick.
Namestnikov, 27, has 13 goals and 25 points in 54 games with the Senators. He can become an unrestricted free agent July 1, so his value is a “rental” unless he agrees to an extension with the Avs before then.
The NHL trade deadline is Monday at 1 p.m. MT.
Namestnikov, who is nearing the conclusion of a two-year $8 million contract ($4 million cap hit), has now been traded three times in his six-year NHL career. He was selected by Tampa Bay late in the first round of the 2011 draft and played three full seasons with the Lightning before being traded to the New York Rangers late in the 2017-18 season.
Two games into this season, the Rangers sent Namestnikov to the Senators for defenseman Nick Ebert and a 2021 fourth-round pick.
Namestnikov becomes the Avalanche’s fourth Russian player along with forwards Valeri Nichushkin and Vladislav Kamenev and defenseman Nikita Zadorov.
The Avalanche is expected to make more moves Monday, including adding a goalie to share time with Pavel Francouz, who began this season as the backup behind Philipp Grubauer. Grubauer is out indefinitely with a lower-body injury.
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