GREENBURGH, N.Y. — The day after he traded forward Vladislav Namestnikov to the Ottawa Senators, Rangers GM Jeff Gorton said he was “sad to see Vlad go,’’ but the move was one the Rangers “felt we had to make.’’
Namestnikov, 26, was traded Monday night to the rebuilding Senators in exchange for a fourth round pick in the 2021 draft, plus defenseman Nick Ebert, 25, who was assigned to the Rangers’ Hartford Wolf Pack farm team.
Gorton said the trade was made both to clear some space under the salary cap, as well as to create opportunity for some of the Rangers’ younger players who are pressing to get into the lineup.