With the 27th pick in the 2011 NHL Draft, the Tampa Bay Lightning select Vladimir Namestnikov, a center from the London Knights of the Ontario Hockey League.
NHL Draft Results: Vladimir Namestnikov Selected 27th By The Tampa Bay Lightning
Namestnikov’s strongest asset is his last name, which allows him to stand out relative to the North American players he goes head-to-head with in the OHL, thanks to the deep penetration of jersey letters into his arm pits. He’s also a fast skater, and if you ask scouts that have seen Namestnikov play, that’s usually the first thing you’ll hear about.
He’s a little undersized for his tall frame, but he’s only been in the OHL for one year, so that’s presumably something he can improve upon.
Read more on Vladimir Namestnikov at our Tampa Bay Lightning blog, Raw Charge.
For full coverage of the 2011 NHL Draft, stick with this StoryStream and our 2011 NHL Draft hub. You can also find team-by-team coverage around our network of 34 hockey sites, where you can find player profiles, news and rumors. Be sure to check out our network-wide 2011 NHL Mock Draft as well.
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