Duffer’s Dabbles: Brother Of Red Wings’ Namestnikov Budding NHL Prospect

There’s plenty of bloodlines in the family of Detroit Red Wings forward Vladislav Namestnikov. His father Evgeny played in the NHL from 1993-2000. Namestnikov’s uncle Slava Kozlov was a member of Detroit’s famed Russian Five who won a pair of Stanley Cups with the Red Wings. Another uncle, Ivan Novoseltsev, was also an NHL forward.

There’s another Namestnikov on the way up the hockey ladder and Vladislav couldn’t be prouder. His brother Max, at 17 years of age 12 years Vlad’s junior, is a first-year forward with the Sarnia Sting. Max was born in White Lake, Michigan.

Against a team he grew up watching his brother @Vladdy18 play for, Max Namestnikov opens the scoring for the @StingHockey in the battle of the 402! 🚨

Watch the #CHLTVGOTW 📺💻📱: https://t.co/vTNMWbCIeB pic.twitter.com/Ppw5yRLmRv

— OntarioHockeyLeague (@OHLHockey) November 17, 2021

“[Max] grew up watching me and I grew up watching my dad,” Vladislav explained to CHL.ca. “He would come to all my London Knights games and get to see how it is.

“I try to help him as much as possible. If he wants some advice I’m more than happy to help. I can’t really watch a lot of his games because I have my own season going on, but now that he’s in Sarnia, hopefully if I get a day off I can go watch him play.”

Red Wings Farmhands Hungry To Beat Wolves

The Grand Rapids Griffins, AHL farm club of the Red Wings, fell for the fifth time this season and sixth time overall to the Chicago Wolves. Dropping a 3-1 decision on Sunday, the defeat snapped the Griffins’ six-game road point streak (4-0-1-1).

There were some positives for the Griffins, Center Kyle Criscuolo extended his point streak (3-6-9) to four games. Calvin Pickard made his sixth straight start in net for the Griffins. It was his 50th appearance for Grand Rapids and 250th of Pickard’s AHL career.

Sound Bite

If you haven’t heard actor Gilbert Gottfried reading a transcript of the quote storm Brady Tkachuk of the Ottawa Senators unlesahed on Brendan (son of Claude) Lemieux) of the Rangers, please enjoy at your leisure.

Gilbert Gottfried needs to read every NHL press conference transcript going forward 😂 https://t.co/FLxOVNZkjM

— TSN (@TSN_Sports) November 29, 2021

Around The League

Detroit: It’s Ned’s net. Alex Nedeljkovic is staking his claim to the No. 1 goaltending position with the Red Wings.

Colorado: Should the Avalanche be considering the possibility of making a waiver claim on San Jose Sharks troubled forward Evander Kane?

Montreal: Big changes for the Canadiens. GM Marc Bergevin and much of the team’s front office staff were sent packing. Jeff Gorton is Montreal’s new GM.

Boston: The Bruins, who play host to the Red Wings on Tuesday, edged the Vancouver Canucks 3-2 on Sunday.