The Detroit Red Wings have signed forward Vladislav Namestnikov to a two-year contract with a $2 million cap hit.

The Red Wings get:

Namestnikov, who scored 17 goals and 31 points in 65 games playing for three different teams (NY Rangers, Ottawa, Colorado). Detroit will be the 27-year-old's fifth NHL team, as he started his career with Tampa Bay. Over the last three seasons he has scored at about a half point per game.

Fantasy players impacted:

As many rebuilding teams will do, the Red Wings are bringing in (and also retaining) a lot of forwards and trying to figure out who should stick. The only one of these forwards signed beyond two seasons is Dylan Larkin. Although Larkin is a center, many of these remaining forwards are wingers, so it's possible that Namestnikov is used as a center, although it may come down to either him or Robby Fabbri at that position. Namestnikov has played all three forward positions, so that versatility should help him find a decent spot in the lineup.

Namestnikov in Ottawa: 15:08 TOI, 1:42 PPTOI, 33.2%PP

Namestnikov in Colorado (regular season): 14:57 TOI, 0:52 PPTOI, 16.4%PP

Namestnikov in Colorado (playoffs): 10:39 TOI, 1:20 PPTOI, 18.1%PP

Although some deployment numbers on a deeper Colorado team were similar to that on rebuilding Ottawa, Namestnikov was used more often overall and on the power play in Ottawa. The Ottawa deployment could mirror what he should expect in Detroit, although he still might have a tough time breaking into the first-unit power play with Larkin, Bertuzzi, Mantha, and power-play specialist Sam Gagner (if not healthy scratched) likely to hold the forward spots. He should at least be penciled in for the second unit, though.

Fantasy players this helps:

Namestnikov

Fantasy players this hurts:

Fabbri

Gagner (particularly at even strength)

Filip Zadina

Valtteri Filppula

Bobby Ryan

*

Fantasy owners are already discussing this signing in the Forum – give your take here!