UPDATE: Jet shave re-signed defenseman Ben Chairot for two years at $850,000 AAV. Chart came up from St. John's amid the November-DEcember injury plague last season and never left the team. He played on the other side of Byfuglien at times and filled in admirably bringin the right mix of size and hockey sense to compliment his line mates. This is a deal that should make many Jets fans happy.
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Alexander Burmistrov is a somewhat polarizing player in Winnipeg, not unlike Evander Kane. While both player are currently former Jets the Russian is believed to be close to returning to Winnipeg at least that what my Twitter feed and DMs said from some trusted sources.
Why compare the two players? Well when they were together in Winnipeg Kane scored 30 goals and was on pace for 29 in the lockout season if it was a full 82. Furthermore, together they formed one of the best PK duos in the league- total shut down dominance.
That duo will not be reunited but if what is being mentioned is true, Burmistrov may very well be a Jet soon and that would certainly spell the end of the Michael Frolik era in Winnipeg, unfortunately.
One of the reasons Burmistrov is polarizing is probably because fans assume the player is a bit selfish, entitled and should be a goal scorer. They may be true and that may be the impression he gave fans in his last season in Winnipeg but if you strip down the reality of what has happened since he left there may be reason to see a different upside.
Burmistrov is not a 20 goal scorer nor she a flashy counterman but he can be a quality depth player and make a good career for himself in the NHL if he too has come to realize where his actual strengths lie. Shot suppression and posession are his strengths and with the right usage and line mates he could be a very effective bottom six or 3rd line player.
What he is in possession of is a somewhat universal skill-set, puck control, transition, vision and tenacious defensive awareness- all of which teams want. He just does not excel in any one of those skills to an elite level and that probably what fans want when they think of a top 10 draft pick.
If Burmistrov is expected to change then fans will have to change their expectations too as he clearly not what some want him to be. That would be the fair way to proceed as both sides will be working to find some harmony on and off the ice.
If you believe in the adage 'the best depth forwards are top picks who never lived up to expectations' (Tyler Dellow) I believe, then Burmistrov is your guy. The key here is does the player himself understand this principle? Two years of toiling in the KHL have probably helped the young Russian understand that he has to change and adapt if he wants to see a long career in the NHL and he also has to give himself the chance to prove he has changed.
That opportunity may be starting with the Winnipeg Jets soon.