Evgeny Namestnikov
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Evgeny "John" Namestnikov (born October 9, 1971 ) is a former professional ice hockey player in the National Hockey League.
- Position: Defence
- Shoots: Right
- Height: 5 ft 10 in
- Weight: 189
[edit] Playing career
Evgeny Namestnikov was born in Novgorod, Russia. He was drafted by the Vancouver Canucks in the 1991 NHL Entry Draft in the 6th round, 117th overall. After being drafted, he continued to play in Moscow for the CSKA Moscow until the 1993-94 season when he joined the Canucks for 17 games. Upon joining the Canucks, he was nicknamed "John" due to the difficulties in pronouncing his first name, "Evgeny". Although he spent most of his North American playing in the minor leagues, he did see 16 games in the 1994-95 season, one playoff game in the 1996 NHL playoffs, and two games in the 1996-97 season as a Canuck.
After four seasons in Vancouver, the New York Islanders signed him as a free agent on July 21, 1997. He played only six games as an Islander in 1997-98. Just over two years later, the New York Rangers signed him as a free agent on August 9, 1999. Before the season even started, the Vancouver Canucks picked him up off of waivers less than two months after the Rangers signed him. Less than two weeks later, on October 5, the Rangers reclaimed him from Vancouver off of waivers. Namestnikov, though, would never suit up for the Blue Shirts as he was traded to the Nashville Predators on February 3, 2000 for Jason Dawe. He suited up for Nashville for two games in the 1999-00 season and hasn't played in the NHL since and has spent the last five seasons playing in Russia.
