Avalanche’s offseason moves continue as Namestnikov and Greer leave

Avalanche’s offseason moves continue as Namestnikov and Greer leave

The Colorado Avalanche’s offseason continues as Vladislav Namestnikov opted to join the Detroit Red Wings in free agency. Namestnikov joined the Avalanche in February from the Ottawa Senators for a 2021 fourth-round pick. The center has signed a two-year $2 million Average Annual Value (AAV) with the Red Wings.

Namestnikov totaled six points in nine regular-season games with the Avalanche before the season was halted due to COVID-19. He also recorded five points in 12 playoff games.

This will be the fifth team for Namestnikov since he was drafted by the Tampa Bay Lightning 27th overall in 2011. He has also played for the New York Rangers before being traded to the Ottawa Senators. Overall the forward had 189 points in 425 regular-season games and nine points in 41 playoff games.

The Avalanche also traded AJ Greer to the New York Islanders for defenseman Kyle Burroughs. Greer has never quite worked out in Colorado despite being drafted in the second round of the 2015 NHL Draft. He has totaled 37 NHL games and totaled six points but has spent much of his time in the AHL with the now-defunct San Antonio Rampage and the Colorado Eagles.

Greer was suspended for six AHL games in 2019 after leaving the penalty box to fight a player. He also had a court case for assault dismissed after paying the victim’s medical and legal fees while doing community service. He had also fallen down the order of possible call ups and wasn’t a part of the Avalanche’s playoff bubble roster.

Burroughs has never played an NHL game for the New York Islanders but has over 300 games of AHL experience with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers. Both players are Restricted Free Agents who had received qualifying offers from their respective teams.

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