Winnipeg Jets forward Vladislav Namestnikov has been placed on injured reserve with a lower body injury and is considered week to week, the team announced after Friday’s game against the Anaheim Ducks. 

This season has not been an easy one for Namestnikov offensively. In 57 games played with the Winnipeg Jets in 2025‑26, he has recorded seven goals and 13 points, along with 28 penalty minutes and 71 hits. Those numbers mark a downturn from previous campaigns and are well below the production many have come to expect from the veteran forward. 

The injury comes at a time when Namestnikov has been relied upon in the Jets forward group in various roles, including as a secondary centre and on occasion providing depth scoring. His contributions this year have been modest compared to the strong season he put up in 2024‑25, when he scored 10 goals and 19 assists for 29 points in 52 games before signing a two‑year contract extension with Winnipeg. 

Namestnikov was originally selected 27th overall in the 2011 NHL Draft by the Tampa Bay Lightning and has spent parts of 13 NHL seasons with multiple teams before joining the Jets. Over his career he has built a reputation as a versatile forward who can play centre or wing and contribute in both offensive and defensive situations. 

Jets fans, with Namestnikov dealing with another injury and having a down year statistically, how do you feel about his role going forward? Do you still see him as a valuable depth piece for this roster once he returns, or is this season’s performance a sign the team needs to look elsewhere for secondary scoring? Let’s hear your thoughts.