Namestnikov “a true professional” – Winnipeg Free Press

Team work contributes to the realization of the dream. When it comes to the Winnipeg Jets these days, there are countless examples of an all-for-one, all-for-one mentality.

Axel Jonsson-Fjallby and Dominik Toninato were delisted from playing regular minutes with the big club and headed to the Manitoba Moose of the American Hockey League. Rasmus Koupari returned from injury, came on briefly and is now in the press box indefinitely as the 13th forward.

Then there's Vladislav Namestnikov, whose reward for holding down the fort as the team's second-line center for the better part of the season was immediately demoted to the fourth line after Sean Monahan was acquired from the Montreal Canadiens.

Pride, and even ego, are important parts of what makes professional athletes tick. However, when it comes to the greater good, they must often be sidelined.

“It (should be put aside), yes,” Namestnikov said after his team's practice on Tuesday. “You should think about it for a while. At the end of the day, I think we got better as a team. Everyone has to play their part and move on. Whatever position the coach thinks is good, we will stick to it.”

Easier said than done, of course. For Namestnikov, that means going from skating with Nicola Ehlers and Cole Perfetti to a lower level in a top-six role between Morgan Barron and Alex Iafallo.

You won't hear any complaints.

“(Monahan) will make our team a lot better. Chevy (GM Kevin Cheveldayoff) says he trusts us to make this move,” Namestnikov said. “We welcome him with open arms and we will try to help him adapt as quickly as possible.”

That's the kind of attitude coach Rick Bowness likes to hear.

“He is a true professional. “Maybe his minutes are gone, but he's still playing significant minutes,” Bowness said.

“(Monahan) will make our team a lot better. Chevy (GM Kevin Cheveldayoff) says he trusts us to make this move.”– Vladislav Namestnikov

“He's still killing penalties. He's still on the power play. I keep it in critical defensive situations. So maybe he's lost a minute or two, but he's still playing very important minutes for us. That's part of what we're doing now, and part of it is being professional. Edit it. Never take it for granted, be a good professional and be a good partner. It's Vladdi, of course.”

Make no mistake, these are good issues, especially when compared to an alternative that lacks quality to complete. For Winnipeg (31-14-5), the return of several injured players and the addition of a rookie made for some tough decisions.

“I think the real strength of our team, and the real strength of our organization, is the depth that we have. Guys can come in and play important roles and work for us when we're injured,” co-captain Josh Morrissey said.

“That's part of the NHL, part of the numbers game. We like to carry a large list. For everyone, whether your minutes change with trades or injuries, we're all used to it. This is part of the adaptation element required to become a successful NHL player. And a successful team.”

While that has been an issue in past seasons, the team has no sense of selfishness, Morrissey said.

“I think the one thing we have is a great group of guys. We are all on the same page,” he said. “Regardless of what the guys' roles look like, I think they all did a great job pulling on the ropes and doing what was asked.”

The trio of Namestnikov, Iafallo and Barron combined for 55 points this year, making them more explosive than a traditional fourth line.

“I think these two are very tough and determined. It can be difficult to play against us. We have to take advantage of this and develop each other.”– Vladislav Namestnikov

“We're all responsible defensively and we can put the offense on the table,” said Namestnikov, who is eighth on the team with 25 points (six goals, 19 assists) in 47 games.

“I think these two are very tough and determined. It can be difficult to play against us. We have to take advantage of this and develop each other.”

They will play their fourth game together on Wednesday night as the San Jose Sharks come to town. Game time is 6:30 p.m

“We have no problem playing against anyone in this league. They all know how to play,” Bowness said.

“I think you have to stay one step ahead of the whole picture. Coming into March, we have 16 games. We need four lines, no problem with that. This shows the value of the fourth line. And that fourth line needs to know that their coach believes in them.”

There's also the added bonus of knowing certain players, like Namestnikov, can play more down the road if needed. After all, the Jets like to play good hockey in the spring. They may be perfectly healthy now, but things can change.

“I know what I bring to the table. “I know what kind of player I am, a person who can bring both sides of the game, offensively and defensively,” said Namestnikov.

“I expect that from myself. Sometimes I can crash and play a different role, and sometimes I crash. I think that's the versatility that I bring to the team.”

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Mike McIntyre
Sports reporter

Mike McIntyre grew up wanting to be a professional wrestler. But when this dream did not come true, he tried his best to become a professional writer.

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