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Burmistrov Back to NHL- perhaps a Jet or Not

August 18, 2014, 11:54 AM ET [36 Comments]
Peter Tessier
Winnipeg Jets Blogger •Winnipeg Jets Writer • RSSArchiveCONTACT
The news came out on Friday as the smart and tuned in guys at Arctic Ice Hockey broke a story where Alexander Burmistrov spoke in Russia about returning to the NHL. Jets fans rejoiced, or at least some of them did. There’s much left to be determined as you can see be reading THIS

It sounds encouraging if you are a Jets fan. A former popular player who used the option of the KHL to maximize his return for hockey services may come back to the team…or not. He may simply allow the Jets to move forward and trade him, or sign and trade as the piece cited above presents.

Looking forward, or from the ‘bird’s eye view’ position, as this space frequently does,is probably relevant now. Burmistrov was the Jets first round pick in 2010, 8th overall and right behind Jeff Skinner. Ooof! He also went ahead of such players as: Tarasenko, Bjugstad, Fowler, and Granlund in that first round. Once in Winnipeg, with the Jets exclaiming that they were a draft and develop team following a model similar to what Nashville has done it would be easy to see how Burmistrov would be a pillar in that model. In fact with former Milwaukee Admirals (farm team for Nashville) and Manitoba Moose coach Claude Noel manning the ship, the stage was set for Burmistrov to develop. He spent two seasons in Winnipeg and left for the KHL when a contract as an RFA could not be reached.

What we do know is there was a breakdown between him and the Jets as a whole. More specifically there was one with him and Noel and in that lockout shortened season he was benched for 4 straight games. I wrote about Burmigate then and it’s worth reading again to get a refresher on how things were 18 months ago.

One question being asked is how would Burmistrov be welcomed to the team if he should return? Business is business and I don’t think any team mate holds a grudge towards another over the business side of playing hockey. However, there may be some effort required from the young Russian to mend some personal fences, with team and organization. That last part goes two-ways though.

As Garret wrote in the AIH piece it’s believed to be that Maurice and Burmistrov had a conversation and that a fresh start is there for Burmistrov, at least with the coach. What about the organization?

Nik Antropov was somewhat of a mentor for Burmistrov, helping him understand the game, the lifestyle and the interactions with coaches and team. Let’s say that Burmistrov was known to be a bit stubborn, and perhaps ‘cavalier’. Not bad things if managed well and by several accounts Antropov did his best but there were still some issues. It’s time for both sides to move on and put them in the past- a grudge from either side serves no purpose, but what if that can’t happen?

This is the part that becomes interesting because if you trade Burmistrov, and the Jets tried at the 2013 deadline, what is his value? Furthermore as a 2010 draft pick and a young player/prospect is he not part of the draft and develop model? If not why?

Consider that the always eloquent and thoughtful Rick Ralph from TSN 1290 has said on several occasions that Evander Kane will be traded, what if Burmistrov is too? That would leave the Jets without their two first round picks from 2009 and 2010 and one has to wonder how seriously the organization is committed to that model if they are prepared to let those players go.

Before we harp on that idea too much let’s remember the return is unknown, but it should be substantial should it not? Well what’s Kane worth and what is a player absent from the league for two seasons worth? That’s why looking at the big picture is important because moving those two players while retaining Wheeler, Stuart and Thorbun longer seems counter intuitive to the declared team-building model. I’m not against Wheeler but he got 6 years in his last deal.

The Jets were not able to make up any ground in their quest for the post-season without Burmistrov, does that change with him and/or without Kane too? There’s no answer for that until the return for those players is known but if it’s a draft pick for Burmistrov and a package for Kane once again all eyes focus on Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff, a GM yet to make a player for player NHL deal.

The problem with inactivity is that when it’s time to become active it requires that much more effort and energy. Like exercise, a vehicle or any moving object, they all are smoother with a bit of inertia. The Jets are stalled in that area, stuck on the tarmac waiting for late passengers to board. Consider those passengers as players and one could consider Burmistrov worth waiting for if he can help the team get some momentum. The alternative is probably a draft pick or two and that is simply adding cargo to the hold because you can’t fill the seats. After 3 seasons is now the time for the Jets to become a cargo flight of draft picks until they turn into passengers?

Bringing back Burmistrov is something that should happen and be a goal for next season but the coach and GM need to get on the same page with it, as does Burmistrov. This organization cannot treat top assets as expendable as no team I’ve seen has ever been successful drafting and developing players by trading them away at young ages.
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