It’s been a struggle this season for Kraken winger Andre Burakovsky.
One can’t help but look at his salary, $5.5-million per for another two seasons after this one, for a guy who’s produced just two goals and eight assists through 26 games.
Last season was a major disappointment as well.
His head coach Dan Bylsma has searched for answers. “Burkie” began the game on November 8th against the Vegas Golden Knights on the 2nd line with Chandler Stephenson and Jaden Schwartz. On November 14th he played with Shane Wright and Eeli Tolvanen on the 3rd line. Three nights later he was on the top line with Matty Beniers and Jared McCann.
Too much juggling? Maybe, but the attempt to find chemistry doesn’t impact the fact Burakovsky holds on to pucks too long and often doesn’t commit to the 200-foot game.
It resulted in him being scratched for back-to-back games this past week against the Carolina Hurricanes and New York Islanders. The Kraken won them both.
“You don’t want to be in that situation when you’re playing in your 11th year in the league,” the Austrian-born forward said Friday night after the game in New Jersey. “There have been a lot of games where I’ve been good and games where I haven’t felt my best. The puck hasn’t really bounced my way this year.
“There’s been chances, I think three games ago at home I had maybe five shots from the middle, that just hits a stick or something, but I mean, you’ve gotta stick with it. It’s not fun to sit out, I want to be on the ice, I want to help the team and play at the level I know I can play. I don’t think I have found that on a regular basis. Just gonna try to find that positive thought that’s going to take me to the next level.”
Friday night against the Devils Burakovsky played 15:09 over 20 shifts, scored the game’s opening goal in the 1st period on his only shot-on-goal, and he blocked one at the other end as well. He had a chance to add another tally on a 3-on-1 rush but the puck hopped on him and he fired it over the cross bar, short side.
“I thought it was a good response,” Bylsma said postgame of Burkie’s return. “Obviously he grabbed the puck and sped up the ice and made a great play, snapped (it) in the back of the net. Was great to see. I was happy with the 3-on-1 to be honest with you, generated by a good play along the wall, but his speed and the shooter’s mindset, shoot for the back of the net, he had a good opportunity to do it. Overall I thought his game was good.”
Look for Burakovsky to get another crack at taking the next step on Sunday against the New York Rangers. The Kraken desperately need him.
