https://twitter.com/FriedgeHNIC/status/815604485414383616
Alexander Burmistrov is a 25 year old centre/right wing making $1.55M (source) per year until the end of this current NHL season to which he will then be a restricted free agent. Is this a player that the Edmonton Oilers could find use for?
Right off the bat, I’d say no. The Oilers could very well bring up Anton Lander, Anton Slepyshev or Jujhar Khaira and save some skrilla but I have to speculate if the Oilers would have interest due to the Ondrej Pavalec rumors earlier this week.
If the Oilers could offload any combination of Benoit Pouliot, Jonas Gustavsson, and Mark Fayne and bring in Pavalec and Burmistrov, would that be so bad?
The Russian’s Numbers
Simply put, an ECHL player might put up better numbers than Burmistrov. He has 1 point 5×5 this year, an assist, two points in total.
Possession stat-wise… This is how the 6’1″ 180lb Ruskie is doing:
So as you can see, his PDO is at a ludicrously low level but so is his Corsi… I’d be curious to know how much of this is due to his most common linemates (Chris Thorburn/Brandon Tanev) and his deployment.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wTZSmL5d1Qw
At the Draft
After lighting it up for the Barrie Colts in 2009/10, the Atlanta Thrashers picked Burmistrov 8th overall in the 2010 draft. The report on him from Elite Prospects says:
A very skilled center with a very good understanding of the game. Excellent puck control, soft hands and quick skating. Has a very good shot. Weaknesses are physical game and defensive skills.
The Thrashers immediately tossed Burmistrov into the lineup and thus, the downward spiral began.
Alexander Burmistrov has never been able to put up anything better than 13 goals or 28 points in any given season that he’s played in the NHL. Even after he bolted to the KHL in 2012 for two years, he didn’t put up gaudy numbers for AK Bars Kazan (108gp 64pts) either. Those are the kind of stats that couldn’t keep Nail Yakupov in town, so I imagine they wouldn’t be enough to move Peter Chiarelli’s interest meter either.
The Availability
Back in November, Elliotte Friedman reported that Burmistrov was up for trade.
“There was a note sent around this week that Alexander Burmistrov is available,” said Friedman on Saturday’s Headlines segment. “I don’t think there’s been a trade request here but an understanding that this isn’t working for either side right now. The Jets are looking to see what they can get for him.”
Even though the Oilers are looking to add depth on the right side, I’d hope the Oilers and Oilers fans give this young Russian a hard pass. He’s not of NHL caliber now and I’d question if he ever was.
Apparently, the Habs could have interest in him but I say let them have him. Maybe Radulov, Markov, and Emelin can do something for him.
What do you say? Would you take a flyer on Burmistrov? Let us know in the comments below. Cheers!
ICYMI: Check out last night’s Oilers’ highlights BLH-Style!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nI8s2GZ2-zk
