Washington Capitals: Andre Burakovsky preps for key year
By Ron Juckett
Washington Capitals winger Andre Burakovsky is next year’s hottest restricted free agent. What does he need to do to land a large contract?
With most of the hard work behind the Washington Capitals, they may take a minute and peek to who needs an extension after next season.
Andre Burakovsky is the biggest name hitting restricted free agency for the Caps. A strong year should get him a nice extension.
A role player, Burakovsky continues improving on both sides of the ice. Last year, although a left-winger, he won over half his faceoffs for the first time. Despite injuries, he averages around a half-point a night.
He feels more comfortable with the physical game. Burakovsky registered career-high numbers in blocked shots and hits despite missing 26 regular season games. At 22, he still has plenty of room to grow.
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Although not a top forward, Washington has used him on the power play. Two of Burakovsky’s 12 goals last season came with the advantage. Five of his tallies were game-winners. Can never go wrong with that.
What the Caps want to see from him is a full season. He is a fast skater who can make things happen. But, his talent has yet to translate fully on the score sheet.
In Burakovsky’s lone season in juniors—Erie in the Ontario Hockey League—he netted 41 goals in 57 games during the 2013-14 season. When you add his 46 assists, you get a whopping 87 points. That is 1.52 points a game.
As Burakovsky enters his fifth season with Washington, he is poised to make the same leap on offense the Caps witnessed Tom Wilson did this year. Burakovsky must stay healthy and continue to deliver those hits and block shots.
If the Caps are not interested long-term in Burakovsky, other teams are. His ability to fly down the ice makes him a potential trade target. Teams such as Anaheim and New Jersey would love him on a top line to create offense.
However, for the Caps, a healthy Burakovsky edges out Jakub Vrana as the second-best left-winger behind Alex Ovechkin. Yes, the gulf between the younger two and Ovechkin is huge. But, a healthy Burakovsky can score 20.
Only three netted 20 last year for Washington, Ovechkin, Evgeny Kuznetsov and Nicklas Backstrom. Although 11 scored in double-digits, Burakovsky can improve his value by scoring 20.
After five seasons with the Washington Capitals, it is time for Andre Burakovsky to strut his stuff. A full year from him will help the team win another Metropolitan Division crown and ease a fraction the road to another Stanley Cup.