Player Discussion Andre Burakovsky

[895]

1) What exactly is his issue? He has speed, size and skill. He works hard.

Unlike Bowey who also has speed, size and skill but not smarts, I don't see a clear reason why he sucks.

2) Should we trade him? What's his value?

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[Silky mitts]

Maybe his 1st 4 years his points were a function a team success and he'd always play with Kuzy, Backstrom, or Mojo who were more prolific passers than Eller, and during that time whenever he hit a slump they would bump him up to play with better linemates and since he's streaky and they were concerned with his development as a player it was a good strategy.

I think they'll either trade him for something minimal in the offseason or walk away from arbitration but not close the door on a return for a pay cut.

 

[Misery74]

I’m not sure why he isn’t getting time on the top line with Wilson out.

He scored two monster goals, but his time here is coming to an end. Maybe we use him to upgrade at wing at trade deadline. Not sure who UFA, maybe a Stone or someone like that.

 

[Ridley Simon]

I would deal him for futures around game 20. Or sooner if a good offer is on the table.

Let someone from Hershey take his spot. We can bank his cap savings and have a monster slot as we near the TDL.

 

[Devil Dancer]

It looks like Reirden is using PP1 for almost the entire 2 minutes, so I bet his PP time is down to start the year.

But he looks pretty lost 5v5 too.

I'm not seeing a ton of potential. He has a decent shot and can skate, but he doesn't do much with those gifts. I'd be fine moving on.

 

[Hivemind]

If he learns how to drive the net more frequently it will help him turn a corner. A lot of forwards struggle at this early in their careers, especially when they've been able to get by on pure talent prior to that point. It certainly wouldn't be the first case of a forward taking a while to figure out how to be an effective net front presence and becoming a late bloomer because of it. It wasn't until JVR arrived in Toronto during his age 23-24 season that he was able to do it consistently. Capitals draft pick Andrew Brunette was on his third team before he put all of his net front game together, but then he become one of the most efficient close-in shooters in NHL history. It took even longer for Mike Knuble, who was 30 when he broke out with a 30 goal season for Boston (his third team). Burt has all the talent to be James Neal (at least disregarding Neal's 80 point season next to Malkin), he just needs to learn how to get to the dirty areas instead of always relying on the toe drag and snapshot from the wing.

He's not the bulkiest 6'3" player ever, but he's still 6'3" and north of 200. He's not going to be mistaken for Anders Lee anytime soon, but Patric Hornqvist, Chris Kunitz, and Wayne Simmonds are all smaller than Burt and have made a living off of that netfront role.

Granted, a lot of these net-front guys thrive off of PP1 time in that role. And that's something that's not likely to come soon in Washington (albeit Johansson was on PP1 for a long time).

 

[VaCaps Fan]

Trade is best for both parties...

 

[RandyHolt]

If we trade him for a fellow failed scoring line forward that we project to be in our top 6 / scoring depth, why not also have them fit on our PP? Target a trade for a RH shoot first guy, or a LH pass first guy that also could use a change of scenery.

His problem is primarily consistency. He is hardly alone there. He also needs to realize he is a shoot first type and be like Conno, fire away at every chance. He was probably spoiled with PP time before he came here; PPGs really make a lot of problems go away. He has the size he has the shot, he has the bloodlines, he may just lack creativity, drive, aggressiveness, and board play. He is not a grinder, so he needs PP time to meet reasonable scoring expectations, but also and maybe more importantly, complimentary linemates that do the dirty work and who know to set him up at every chance.

 

[Langway]

His hockey sense is the problem and I don't think he's all that skilled. He shows flashes but a big part of being a skilled player is consistently involved decision-making. At his best when he's feeling it it's there but the wild variations show how fickle and frustrating he is as a player.

The better transition is probably more toward a defensive-specialist type and forcing him to simplify his game but that's not viable at his cap hit. He should be a change of scenery move the way he's going. The way he's going, even with Wilson out, I'd be interested in what Boyd could do instead in a fourth-line role. Their lack of quality alternatives has kept him around but if he's not going to produce anything then even their weak depth will challenge that level of ineffectiveness.

 

[ovikovy817]

Depends on his AAV, but I would like to keep him. We know that he can score some important goals, he had some good games in the Pens series in previous years too. So if we can't have someone much better than him, I'd rather to keep him

 

[kicksavedave]

I normally don't see ads when I browse, but my ABP crashed so I saw a few ads this morning. The ad I saw when I clicked this link: "Tradesy".

Its a sign from above. Trade Bura for whatever we can get for him. The ad gods have spoken.

 

[Marshall]

...with nothin' better to do.

It appears that Vrana has surpassed Burakovsky. Some would say that's an understatement.

Where are you at with Bura at this point?

 

[Dr John Carlson]

I don't think his offensive tools are that strong. His shot is hard but it's inaccurate and the release isn't quick like Vrana's is. Skating-wise he has good straightline speed but his edgework isn't great, which is part of the reason why he's weak along the boards.

 

[HTFN]

It's in his brain. It's like he can't get the puck and do anything with it without thinking "finally, now is my time to shine", and by then the play has already caught up to him.

I had hoped that the playoffs would have led him to embrace his physical tools and reconfigure his game to be more useful around them, but I think he's cooked. It is what it is.

e: Also, he has no snap shot. You can predict Burakovsky's release from a mile away with his big sweeping wrister, and he has no second shot. Dowd's snapper last night was more surprising to the goaltender than anything Burakovsky threw at the cage.

 

[trick9]

Depends if they get anything even close to value back. If not, then he should be safe until Wilson returns.

 

[AlexBrovechkin8]

It's frustrating he stinks because what they need are more Burakovskys... young, talented forwards with top-6 potential. But yeah, he's done here, I think.

 

[AtNightWeFly]

He knows what time it is that's why the huge hit last night. He knows!

 

[artilector]

Bura's trade value is probably quite low, so I don't see a real incentive to trade him until the Caps feel that a Hershey guy is on the brink of really surpassing him.

Having cap space at the deadline is nice to have, but I'm not sure it really adds a big enough reason to trade Bura "soon".

 

[Midnight Judges]

I don't know why you trade him. He has the talent to come up big as a depth player. I'd say hold on to him through the 2019 playoffs and see what happens.

If he's a no-show in the playoffs you sign him cheap. If he has a great playoffs you say thank you, hopefully we get another cup out of it but he walks.

How are either of these scenarios all that bad? What are the chances you are going to trade him for a better playoff performer?

 

[StrikingDistance]

His problem is between the ears. He sought counseling by a sports psychologist over the summer so I was hoping he would break through whatever mental barriers he has. Saw more effort last night possibly because his demotion and the writing being on the wall. Or maybe, he's just not a smart hockey player?

Also, queue the incoming multi-point BurKovalschmuk game on Thursday. lol

 

[shtorm2005]

He doesn't score often, but when he does, it's GWG in 7th game of the conference finals.

 

[Ridley Simon]

He doesn't score often, but when he does, it's GWG in 7th game of the conference finals.

That’s a little like expecting lightning to strike the same spot 2x. Doesn’t happen often. I’m thrilled he had “the game”, but if that’s what we are all holding on to, then....well.....

 

[shtorm2005]

That’s a little like expecting lightning to strike the same spot 2x. Doesn’t happen often. I’m thrilled he had “the game”, but if that’s what we are all holding on to, then....well.....

That's not my point. Caps aren't in urgent need of secondary scoring. Knowing they have a player that can score important goals when no one is expecting from him gives some feeling of comfort in important games. Opponent plan his game to stop Caps big guns, and when their effort reaches it's peak, you need guys like DSP and Burakovsky because they perform better when all attention is away from them. But, Im little bit biased because I don't want Caps trade away their champions...

 

[Bananas]

He’s a mercurial legend...just keep tweaking that melon and tell him to crash the net and play D.

 

[Eskobar]

He doesn't score often, but when he does, it's GWG in 7th game of the conference finals.

It was Ovechkin who scored the game winning goal in G7.