Cooper on reassigning Namestnikov from Bolts: 'He's a phone call away'
TAMPA, Fla. -- He remains a phone call away, but in the end, the Tampa Bay Lightning's ample depth meant another stint in Syracuse for Vladislav Namestnikov.
Wednesday, the Lightning reassigned Namestnikov to the Tampa Bay's American Hockey League affiliate despite a promising start to this season for the 22-year-old center. He had three goals and seven points in 23 games with Tampa Bay, his first significant time with the Lightning after he made four appearances with them last season.
Coach Jon Cooper said the move to send Namestnikov to the Crunch was due to the Lightning's current health and depth. A similar choice was made with center Cedric Paquette, who was reassigned to Syracuse on Oct. 31.
"There are points in the season when you're healthy, and there are probably more points in the season where you're not," Cooper said. "We're healthy. We have numbers. The same thing happened to Paquette a month ago, and now it has happened to Vlady. Do we expect Vlady to be in the minors for the rest of the season? Most certainly not. But it's a situation where if he's going to be in and out of the lineup here, why not get to a situation to play games? And so, he's a phone call away."
Namestnikov made an impression early, averaging 11:51 of ice time per game and closing with a plus-minus rating of plus-3 in his most recent stint with the Lightning. Tampa Bay drafted him in the first round, 27th overall, in 2011.
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