Vladislav Namestnikov was a healthy scratch for the New York Rangers against the Buffalo Sabres on Oct. 6. Head coach David Quinn chose to sit him in favor of playing 34-year old enforcer Cody McLeod. Needless to say, that was quite a fall from grace for a player who is coming off of a career-year in terms of production and is in the first year of a new two-year, $8 million contract.
Quinn said the change is more about McLeod than it is about Namestnikov. He wants McLeod to bring "Just a little more pace and energy.