Vladislav Namestnikov’s ‘living the dream’

WXYZ’s Mike Foss took note of Red Wings forward and free agent signing Vladislav Namestnikov’s feelings regarding playing for his “childhood team“:

Detroit Red Wings forward Vladislav Namestnikov called it a “dream come true” to play for the same team that his uncle, Slava Kozlov, helped win two Stanley Cup championships.

“I grew up watching the Red Wings’ games, so it’s extremely special for me,” Namestnikov told reporters Monday during the team’s training camp at Little Caesars Arena. “Every time I show up to the rink, it’s like ‘oh my God, dream come true.'”

Beyond the legend of the “Russian Five,” who helped Detroit capture the 1997 and 1998 Stanley Cup titles, Namestnikov has an everyday reminder of his uncle: Kozlov’s photo on the wall of the Red Wings dressing room.

“I sit directly across from it, so when I look up, I see him,” said Namestnikov. “So it’s very exciting for me, for my family that I’m playing for the Red Wings.”

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George Malik

My name is George Malik, and I'm the Malik Report's editor/blogger/poster. I have been blogging about the Red Wings since 2006, and have worked with MLive and Kukla's Korner. Thank you for reading!

2 thoughts on “Vladislav Namestnikov’s ‘living the dream’”

  1. Can’t wait to watch him play. I was a huge Kozlov fan back in the mid 90s, he scored some huge playoff goals for us. Including that OT winner that clinched the conference final against the Hawks in 95.

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