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Andre Burakovsky

Andre Burakovsky To Miss Six To Eight Weeks

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It has been a rough start to Seattle’s season offensively as the Kraken have just 11 goals in six games.  Things are about to get even tougher on that front as Geoff Baker of The Seattle Times reports that winger Andre Burakovsky will miss the next six to eight weeks with an upper-body injury.

The injury occurred in last night’s loss to the Rangers as he exited after a hit from Jacob Trouba, playing just 6:05.  The 28-year-old had 39 points in 49 games last season, finishing second on the Kraken in points per game behind only Jared McCann but was unable to suit up in the playoffs due to the torn groin that kept him out for the stretch run.

Like many Seattle players, Burakovsky had gotten off to a slow start this year with just two helpers in his first six contests.  Nevertheless, losing a top-six forward is never ideal for a team, especially one that has struggled so much out of the gate from a production standpoint.

GM Ron Francis indicated that a recall is likely to come at some point to take Burakovsky’s spot on the roster but not necessarily right away.  For now, at least, Devin Shore should come into the lineup.  Seattle is about to begin a four-game road trip on Tuesday and since they have 19 healthy skaters for now (with one extra defenseman), a call-up from AHL Coachella Valley isn’t necessarily needed right away.  Francis acknowledged they might take a wait-and-see approach on that front to see when a replacement for Burakovsky on the roster will be needed.

Seattle has just one victory so far this season and now, the task of getting back on track just got a little harder now that they’ll be without one of their better wingers in Burakovsky until some point in December.

Seattle Kraken Activate Andre Burakovsky Off Injured Reserve

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The Seattle Kraken have activated forward Andre Burakovsky from injured reserve, confirming he’ll be ready to go ahead of the 2023-24 campaign, per CapFriendly.

Burakovsky had been on injured reserve for over six months after sustaining a lower-body injury in early February. Multiple setbacks during his recovery ended up sidelining him for the remainder of the regular season and playoffs, which was quite a tough break for the Swedish and Austrian forward. In his first year with the Kraken, Burakovky’s 0.80 points per game finished second on the team behind 40-goal-scorer Jared McCann.

After Seattle’s postseason elimination at the hands of the Dallas Stars in May, general manager Ron Francis confirmed that Burakovsky had sustained a torn groin during his first shift after coming back from the league-wide All-Star break. Burakovsky resumed skating last month in an effort to be healthy for training camp, which seems to have been a successful endeavor.

Since joining the Colorado Avalanche in 2019, Burakovsky has quietly become one of the more efficient point producers in the NHL – earning him a hefty five-year, $27.5MM commitment from Seattle in free agency last summer. Health has been a concern for him, however. While shortened seasons have also played a factor, Burakovsky has played more than 60 games in a season only once over the course of the past four years.

Still, his 0.79 points per game over the past four seasons are on par with other top-six stalwarts like Matt Duchene, Brock Nelson, and others, despite averaging significantly less ice time than his peer group. He is projected to resume a top-six role for the Kraken, skating on a veteran second line alongside Jaden Schwartz and Alexander Wennberg.

Pacific Notes: Broberg, Burakovsky, Brown

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With Philip Broberg being fourth on the left side of Edmonton’s depth chart and the team clearly being in win-now mode, Allan Mitchell of The Athletic wonders (subscription link) if the blueliner could be best utilized as a trade asset this season.  The 22-year-old spent the bulk of last season with the Oilers, getting into 46 games but was limited to just a goal and seven assists while logging only 12:36 per night.  That ATOI dipped to just 6:53 per contest in the playoffs.  Broberg, a 2019 first-round pick (8th overall), has had some offensive success in the minors (27 points in 38 games with AHL Bakersfield) and should be able to bring back a considerable asset should GM Ken Holland decide to move him in the coming months if he can’t lock down a bigger role in the lineup.

Elsewhere out in the Pacific:

  • Kraken winger Andre Burakovsky has resumed skating as he works his way back from a torn groin muscle he sustained back in February, notes Geoff Baker of The Seattle Times. The hope is that the 28-year-old will be fully recovered for training camp next month.  Burakovsky led Seattle in scoring at the time of his injury with 39 points in 49 games and was expected to be back just after the trade deadline which played a role in the team opting to not make an addition up front.  However, he wound up suffering a setback and underwent surgery which ended his season.
  • The Kings’ AHL affiliate in Ontario recently announced the hiring of Adam Brown as their goaltending development coach. The 31-year-old had worked with Los Angeles in a similar role for the past two seasons while also doing some scouting.  After working with their goalies throughout the organization, Brown will now work in a more traditional coaching role with the Reign and will be tasked with aiding newcomer Erik Portillo whose rights were acquired back in March.

Offseason Notes: Knight, Burakovsky, Suess

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Not featured in the Florida Panthers’ run to the Stanley Cup Final in 2023, goaltender Spencer Knight is getting back on the ice before the season gets underway. George Richards of Florida Hockey Now reports that Knight has been granted permission to participate in the team’s offseason development camp.

After spending much of last season in the league’s NHLPA Player Assistance Program, Knight is looking to make his return to the NHL. Although the Panthers did sign goaltender Anthony Stolarz to a one-year, $1.1MM contract on the first day of free agency, Knight will almost certainly find playing time in Florida’s net.

Before going into the Player Assistance Program in February, Knight would finish the year with a 9-8-3 record, earning a .901 SV% and a 3.18 GAA. Although those numbers would be a career low for Knight, the former 13th overall pick is looking to improve on those numbers during the 2023-24 NHL season.

If the team is looking to make another postseason run next year, Knight will undoubtedly play a role. Already having Sergei Bobrovsky in the net, both have shown throughout their careers they have the ability to take over games during the regular season or playoffs.

Other notes:

  • Missing just under half of the 2022-23 NHL season due to a lower-body injury, forward Andre Burakovsky expects to make a full comeback next year. According to General Manager Ron Francis, Burakovsky is feeling “stronger every day” (Tweet Link). Burakovsky’s addition back to the Seattle Kraken lineup will be a tremendous benefit for the team, as he scored 39 points in 49 games, shortly before the Kraken eliminated his former team, the Colorado Avalanche, in the first round of the 2023 Stanley Cup playoffs.
  • The AHL affiliate of the Winnipeg Jets has added some strength at forward, signing C.J. Suess to a minor-league contract. This will be the second time Suess has featured in the Jets’ organization, playing for the team from 2017-2022. In his 166 games played for the Moose so far throughout his career, Suess has 45 goals and 38 assists.

West Notes: Lehner, Burakovsky, Iginla

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One name oft forgotten in the Vegas Golden Knights goalie carousel this season is Robin Lehner, who spent the entire 2022-23 campaign on long-term injured reserve. After missing the tail end of the 2021-22 campaign with a significant shoulder injury, it was actually off-season hip surgery that kept Lehner out for the year.

The Swedish netminder remains one of the best around when healthy, but Golden Knights general manager Kelly McCrimmon today didn’t have any update on Lehner’s status moving forward. McCrimmon noted Lehner is still undergoing rehab on both of his hips, but didn’t have a recent update on his progress. Lehner’s absence hasn’t hindered the Golden Knights much this season, and he could be a trade candidate if he does get healthy to clear some cap space. The 2019 Vezina Trophy nominee is locked in at a $5MM cap hit through 2025, making him an affordable option for a team in need of a starting netminder.

  • Seattle Kraken general manager Ron Francis offered some clarity today on the injury that kept star winger Andre Burakovsky out of the lineup down the stretch of the season. Per Francis, Burakovsky tore his groin on his first shift after the All-Star break and suffered multiple setbacks in his recovery, sidelining him for the remainder of the regular season and playoffs. The 28-year-old was having a spectacular first season in Seattle before the injury, scoring 39 points in 49 games in a top-six role.
  • After selecting him in 12th overall in last week’s WHL Prospects Draft, the Edmonton Oil Kings have officially brought 14-year-old Joe Iginla, son of Calgary Flames legend Jarome Iginla, into the organization on a scholarship and development agreement. Iginla posted monster numbers at the U15 level this season with his dad coaching, scoring 65 points in 27 games, and even got some looks in U16 and U17 play. Iginla is not NHL draft eligible until 2026 and is not expected to join the Oil Kings until the 2024-25 season.

Andre Burakovsky To Miss Start Of Playoffs

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Seattle Kraken winger Andre Burakovsky won’t be available next week when the team plays their first-ever postseason games, the team announced early Friday morning.

Burakovsky, 28, underwent a surgical procedure to address a recurring lower-body injury, the team said. He has not played since February 7, when he sustained the injury after playing just 21 seconds in a game against the New York Islanders.

While Seattle doesn’t know their first-round opponent yet, it will be one of the Colorado Avalanche or Dallas Stars, both well-rounded teams with playoff experience. Burakovsky’s offense is a major loss, as his 39 points in 49 games ranked second on the team in points per game this season (0.80).

If there is a team built to withstand the loss of a top-six forward, though, it’s Seattle. Depth scoring has been their hallmark this year, with only one of their 12 regular forwards (Morgan Geekie) failing to pot 10 goals this season. Even then, Geekie scored nine in 69 games.

It’s a tough pill to swallow for Burakovsky as well, who might miss a chance to play a series against the team he won a Stanley Cup with just last season. After a career-high 61 points with Colorado last year, Burakovsky signed a five-year, $27.5MM contract with Seattle in free agency.

Seattle didn’t issue a timeline for his return, but it seems unlikely they’ll have his services at any time during the first round. If Burakovsky is to play again this season, he’ll likely need to have his teammates rally for a major upset.

Pacific Notes: Burakovsky, Comtois, Murray

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The hope for the Kraken was that winger Andre Burakovsky would have been back a couple of weeks ago.  However, GM Ron Francis acknowledged to Geoff Baker of The Seattle Times that the veteran suffered a setback in his recovery that has delayed his return to the lineup.  The 28-year-old has missed nearly two months with a lower-body injury and had a strong first half of the season before that, notching 13 goals and 26 assists in 49 games.  Burakovsky has started skating with development coaches but isn’t ready to get back into team drills yet.  Francis indicated that even if he isn’t able to get back to full practices by the time the playoffs start, they’ll have no hesitance in putting him back in when Burakovsky is eventually cleared to return.

More from the Pacific:

  • This season hasn’t been a great one for Ducks winger Max Comtois. Now two years removed from a 33-point campaign, his point total since then is 33 between 2021-22 and 2022-23.  Accordingly, Eric Stephens of The Athletic suggests (subscription link) that it’s unlikely that the 24-year-old will be tendered his $2.55MM qualifying offer this summer.  Not long ago, Comtois was viewed as a possible power forward on the rise but Stephens notes that he was available in a trade this season with a swap obviously failing to materialize.
  • Oilers defenseman Ryan Murray has resumed skating, relays TSN’s Ryan Rishaug (Twitter link). The 29-year-old has been out with a back injury for the last three months and has been limited to just 13 appearances this season where he has three assists while averaging a little over 13 minutes a night.  Murray isn’t likely to crack Edmonton’s top six when he’s cleared to return but he’d at least give them some extra veteran depth for the playoffs.

Andre Burakovsky Placed On Injured Reserve; Justin Schultz Activated

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After playing just a single shift on Tuesday, Seattle Kraken forward Andre Burakovsky has been moved to injured reserve. The team has activated Justin Schultz and recalled John Hayden to fill his roster spot.

Burakovsky, 28 (today!), is having an outstanding season in his first year with Seattle, scoring 39 points in 49 games so far. That had him on pace to break the career-high 61 points he set last year with Colorado, though this injury may now end that dream.

It’s unclear how long he will be out, but Burakovsky must miss at least a week with his placement on IR. Though the team did not confirm, it looked like a non-contact injury against the New York Islanders, which always draws a little more attention as a possible long-term issue. The team said yesterday that he is still being evaluated, but a quick move to injured reserve is not promising.

At least the team is getting Schultz back, who last played on January 17. The 32-year-old defenseman has averaged just over 18 minutes a night for the Kraken but does have 24 points in 42 games, already passing the total he had in a full season with Washington in 2021-22.

Schultz has been a strong puck-moving option in the NHL for years, and that hasn’t changed in Seattle, where he has recorded excellent possession numbers in their up-tempo style. Getting him back will at least help soften the blow of Burakovsky’s absence, though it certainly won’t make up for it.

January Calder Trophy Watch: Forwards

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The middle of the season is a common time for awards check-ins in the NHL, and for good reason. Enough sample size is under our belts to cross off some early-season hot and cold streaks, and it’s given some time for players to grow into impact roles for new teams.

That’s especially true with the Calder Trophy, tracking the best rookie in the league. Young players are especially susceptible to streakiness, for better or for worse. Many players’ seasons have evened out somewhat, and it’s as good a time as any to take a look at where things stand for a handful of top Calder Trophy candidates, this time at the forward position.

Forwards

Matthew Beniers, Seattle Kraken

Beniers stands as the clear front-runner for the Calder in most circles, and for good reason. He leads all rookies in goals (17) and points (36), and is playing serious minutes at 17:05 per game. He’s one point behind Andre Burakovsky for the Kraken lead in scoring, and he’s been a crucial part of Seattle’s improvement from basement dweller to playoff contender in 2022-23.

The 2021 second-overall pick was a “safe floor, unsure ceiling” type of player when he was drafted. With this kind of production so early in his career, Seattle can be optimistic that Beniers will hit his first-line center ceiling as his defense improves. He’s a poor 43.7% in the faceoff dot, but that’s been a problem for the entire Kraken squad, as they don’t have a single player over 50%.

Cole Perfetti, Winnipeg Jets

Along with the rest of the Jets, Perfetti is thriving offensively under head coach Rick Bowness. He had a solid seven points in 18 NHL games last season, maintaining his rookie status, but this season leads rookies with 20 assists.

While he has thrived playing with some of Winnipeg’s top talent, Perfetti’s point production is impressive in its own right. Very little of his scoring has come on the power play, he has just four points there. He’s sixth on the Jets in scoring, and while he isn’t receiving top minutes quite yet, nearly 15 minutes a night is still fine for a player his age. Look for his goal-scoring to improve throughout the season, too; he’s shooting at just 8.2%.

Mason McTavish, Anaheim Ducks

After a 2022 World Juniors for the ages, McTavish has transitioned well to the NHL on a struggling team. Anaheim’s systems have been a mess all season, but McTavish has still managed 27 points in 45 games and is drawing some tough matchups in the top six.

Used on and off at the center position, McTavish is scoring without much support. He’s third on the team in points and his -14 rating is actually one of the better ones on the team. Selected immediately after Beniers in 2021, it’s looking like an incredibly strong top-five from that class.

On the cusp: Matias Maccelli and Dylan Guenther (ARI), Kent Johnson (CBJ), Jack Quinn and John-Jason Peterka (BUF), Wyatt Johnston (DAL), Juuso Parssinen (NSH), Noah Cates (PHI)

Free Agent Profile: Phil Kessel

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In his peak throughout the 2010s, Phil Kessel was a consistent 30-goal threat, displaying his electric shooting talent en route to back-to-back Stanley Cup championships with the Pittsburgh Penguins (and with the Toronto Maple Leafs before that). While Kessel’s move to Arizona for the last three seasons may have left him forgotten in some circles, he’s coming off his best season in three years.

Despite a career-low 4.6 shooting percentage, Kessel will pitch his relatively high point total, especially given the poor state of affairs in Arizona, to convince teams he’s still a credible threat. And, looking at his strong play-driving numbers from last season, he may have a point. Despite seeing his ice time dip to its lowest point during his three years in Arizona, Kessel still managed to finish within 11 points of the team lead at age 34.

It’s not often that a 34-year-old is on the open market with a strong reason to invest in a rebound season, but that’s the case with Kessel. Even if his defense hasn’t been pretty lately, it was never a selling point to his game. Considering his career average shooting percentage sits over 10 percent, expecting Kessel to have a stronger offensive season in 2022-23, at least in terms of putting pucks in the net, is a safe bet.

His Stanley Cup pedigree should also make him an attractive option for teams looking for affordable depth to help push them over the hump to a Stanley Cup.

Stats

2021-22: 82 GP, 8-44-52, -24 rating, 40 PIMs, 175 shots, 45.3 CF%, 16:41 ATOI
Career: 1204 GP, 399-557-956, -148 rating, 372 PIMs, 3700 shots, 49.3 CF%, 18:02 ATOI

Potential Suitors

Kessel should find a home before a lot of other veterans are forced to settle for PTOs as training camps begin. While he’s not what he used to be, he still had more than 50 points last season. With his low price tag, he should be an attractive option as teams continue to tinker with their rosters during the month of August.

There could be a spot for him in the bottom six of a retooled Calgary Flames forward group. While Jakob Pelletier is a strong candidate to make a jump to the NHL next season after a strong season in Stockton, Kessel could challenge other veterans such as Milan Lucic or Sean Monahan for playing time at a cheaper price and more goal-scoring upside. He could go Cup-chasing with the Colorado Avalanche as well, as they’ve lost some depth forwards such as Andre Burakovsky and Nicolas Aube-Kubel. He could also stand to be a solid secondary scoring option for the Minnesota Wild after they lost Kevin Fiala.

If he wants to head back East, the New York Rangers, Ottawa Senators, and Florida Panthers are a trio of teams that could use him in their bottom six.

Projected Contract

Kessel came in 23rd on our Top 50 UFAs list in early July. While he likely won’t command the $2MM AAV we predicted at this point, there’s still a solid chance he could earn seven figures and not have to settle for a league minimum deal. It all likely depends on the cap situation of the team Kessel opts to sign with, as after over $90MM in career earnings, per CapFriendly, money likely won’t be a huge factor in his decision.

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