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Andre Burakovsky moving?? Vancouver calling |
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Andre Burakovsky has been anything but consistent over his time in the National Hockey League and with his recent stretch of healthy scratches under Washington Capitals coach Todd Reirden, it seems his enigmatic playing style may have run its course.
After being selected by Washington 13th overall in the first round of the 2013 NHL draft the 6’3”201-pound winger was in turn selected in the OHL import draft by the Erie Otters where he joined up with then jr phenom Connor McDavid and collected 41 goals and 46 assists for 87 points in 57 games and then tallied 10 goals in 14 playoff games in the 2013/14 OHL season.
Unlike many Capitals prospects in the past including Braden Holtby, John Carlson, Jakub Vrana, Madison Bowey, Christian Djoos and Chandler Stephenson the club took a different approach with Burakovsky. Making the Capitals opening night roster in 2014/15 he made a splash early with a goal in his first game vs Montreal as the primarily shooting forward spent only 13 games in the AHL during his rookie campaign and finished the season with promising numbers with 9 goals and 22 points in 53 games. He also scored 2 goals in 11 playoff games.
During his sophomore season in 2015/16 he had a solid 17 goals and 38 points in 79 games with the Caps and while was still learning the defensive side of the game many, including myself, had him pegged in as one of the Caps cornerstones on the wing. But with one goal in 12 playoff games that year, signs started to show of regression and he was taking penalties at bad times.
Over two seasons of 2016-2018 playing in a total of 120 games, he managed only 24 goals and 60 points with 2017/18 being his worse year for penalties with 28 minutes. Scratched at times and dealing with multiple injuries over those two seasons, it was thought he would rebound when he remained healthy. During the Caps Cup run last spring his career was almost written over the course of 2 months. He returned from injury to play in the playoffs but was healthy scratched after 4 games.
In classic Burakovsky fashion, he would return to the lineup in game 6 vs Tampa Bay and then scored two of the biggest goals in Capitals history during a 4-0 series-clinching game 7 to help send the franchise to the Stanley Cup final for only the second time ever. He had 4 assists in the 5 game series vs Vegas.
This season he is in the last year of a two-year $6M deal signed in the summer of 2017 and with his impending Restricted Free Agent status, many were hoping he would take a big step this season at least in terms of consistent play and defending on the other side of the puck. He has always struggled at board play as he plays too much with his stick and not body.
But in 29 games he has only 5 goals and 3 assists and has at times looked lost in his own end. Not good things for a young but experienced player.
With the Capitals forward crew getting healthy recently with the return of Tom Wilson and TJ Oshie and with players like Jakub Vrana taking strides the much maligned Burakovsky has found himself as a healthy scratch in 3 straight games after again sitting last game vs the Buffalo Sabres on Sunday.
Reports came out that the Vancouver Canucks had contacted the Capitals about his availability on Sunday. This shouldn’t come as any surprise and I would imagine they aren’t the only team.
If somehow the Caps could package a deal for Ben Hutton I would be jumping for joy. Somehow, I have a feeling the Canucks are trying to rid themselves of Del Zotto. I’d walk if it’s him.
Burakovsky is still only 23 years old and with 281 NHL games under his belt, he still has plenty of value. His shot is all-world and he can skate with the pace of today’s game. But he needs to be in an offensive role with time on the power play and it’s not looking like that will happen in DC. This may be a situation where player and club benefits from moving on.
The Capitals can’t let him walk in the summer to free agency for nothing. Many possibilities could exist from the Caps taking picks or a prospect to another established NHL’er with an expiring contract. Regardless, I believe his days are numbered in Washington.
Washington Capitals Blogger • 
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