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NHL free agency 2019: Avalanche sign Andre Burakovsky to one-year deal

By Dave Stevenson

WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 06: Washington Capitals left wing Andre Burakovsky (65) glances at the scoreboard during the New York Islanders vs. the Washington Capitals NHL game April 6, 2019 at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C.. (Photo by Randy Litzinger/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 06: Washington Capitals left wing Andre Burakovsky (65) glances at the scoreboard during the New York Islanders vs. the Washington Capitals NHL game April 6, 2019 at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C.. (Photo by Randy Litzinger/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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The Colorado Avalanche traded for Andre Burakovsky earlier this offseason. According to The Athletic, he has signed a one-year, $3.25 million deal.

Back in June, the Washington Capitals traded forward Andre Burakovsky to the Colorado Avalanche. As a restricted free agent, he had no deal. However, the team has announced Burakovsky has signed a one-year deal with the team.

According to Ryan S. Clark of The Athletic, the deal is worth $3.25 million. That is the same salary as he had last season, so it’s the same as his qualifying offer. The Capitals qualified him back in June before they traded him to the Avs.

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For Burakovsky, this is his chance to prove himself to Colorado. Though he has a lot of potential, he has rarely shown it in the past two seasons. Burakovsky has 50 points in his last two seasons (122 games combined).

After nearly getting to the 40 point plateau in two consecutive seasons in 2015-16 and 2016-17, the Capitals signed him to a two-year bridge deal. However, Burakovsky didn’t improve as they thought he would.

He has, however, shown flashes of brilliance. Burakovsky was perhaps never more brilliant than he was in Game 7 of the 2018 Eastern Conference Final against the Tampa Bay Lightning, during which he scored two goals to help the Capitals advance to the Stanley Cup Final. They eventually beat the Vegas Golden Knights in five games.

Burakovsky excels in transition, so he should be a nice fit with the Avalanche. He’s also a fast forward. And, as everyone knows, Colorado loves to play fast. So Burakovsky should slot right into their top-nine somewhere.

Now, where will that be? Could it be next to Nazem Kadri on the second line? Or perhaps next to Tyson Jost on the third line? Though Burakovsky is left-handed, most of his best work has come at right wing, which could make things interesting with J.T. Compher, Mikko Rantanen, and Joonas Donskoi already on the right side.

Keep in mind Burakovsky didn’t do well in a fourth-line role with the Capitals. He’s not defensively responsible enough to play there. When Burakovsky has had success in the NHL, it has been with a clearly defined role and with a coach who has been willing to be patient with him.

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It will be up to head coach Jared Bednar, fresh off a well-deserved extension, to figure out how to best utilize his unique skillset. Burakovsky is a good guy to gamble on, as he has a lot of skill. If he puts everything together, he could be primed for a breakout year in 2019-20. Then again, people have been saying that every summer for the past few years.

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