3:04PM: Pierre LeBrun notes that Namestnikov's contract breaks down as $3.5 million, with a 500K signing bonus, for this season and a base salary of $4 million for next season.
2:58PM: The Rangers have confirmed the Namestnikov contract.
2:52PM: Larry Brooks writes that Namestnikov is re-signing with the Rangers on a two-year deal worth around $4 million per season.
Brooks writes that the Rangers are not signing Namestnikov with the intention to trade him.
11:19AM:According to his agent, rumors indicating that Vlad Namestnikov may be heading to the KHL are "absolutely not true." (Milstein)
Namestnikov's agent said that a "contract extension is in works." (Milstein)
Namestnikov is an RFA that is arbitration eligible.
Jeff Gorton said last week that he had checked in with his RFAs and had an understanding of what it may take to sign them.
Adam Rotter: I really never expected Namestnikov to re-sign with the Rangers. I thought for sure that he would be used as a trade chip around the draft, either to help move up, or as part of a bigger package to land someone the Rangers want to move forward with. Now, just because he re-signed for two-years doesn't mean he will spend all of that time with the Rangers and then leave as a UFA when his contract expires. Depending on how this season goes, how Namestnikov plays and how he fits into the future, he could easily be moved at the deadline for a team looking to make two playoff runs with him. Ultimately it's a pretty good deal for both sides. The Rangers don't have a long commitment to him, Namestnikov gets a nice raise and also the chance to be a UFA in two-years.