Lightning trade Namestnikov to Sharks

The Tampa Bay Lightning dealt forward Vladislav Namestnikov to the San Jose Sharks for forward Michael Eyssimont, the Sharks announced Wednesday.

The Lightning are retaining 50% of Namestnikov's $2.5-million cap hit.

Namestnikov is a pending unrestricted free agent. He's now been traded five times since February 2018. The 30-year-old is in his ninth full season. He made his NHL debut with the Lightning in 2014 but played only three more games at the highest level that season. Namestnikov rejoined Tampa as a free agent in 2022 after stints with the New York Rangers, Ottawa Senators, Colorado Avalanche, Detroit Red Wings, and Dallas Stars.

Eyssimont is a pending RFA. The Sharks claimed the 26-year-old off waivers from the Winnipeg Jets in early January. He's in the final season of a two-year pact he inked with the Jets in July 2021. It carries a cap hit of $750,000.