Burakovsky Brings Stanley Cup Experience to Blackhawks Young Core

Last week, the Chicago Blackhawks acquired winger Andre Burakovsky from the Seattle Kraken for Joe Veleno. While Burakovsky is an upgrade, the move didn’t exactly move the needle too much. This is the summer general manager Kyle Davidson is supposed to find a difference-maker. He still may; there is a long way to go before the offseason ends.

Getting traded in professional sports is never an easy thing. It’s not easy to pick up and move your family to a new city. At least in the offseason, there is more time to get settled in. Burakovsky was excited when he was told he was coming to Chicago. He said he was a Blackhawks fan while growing up in Sweden. He added that his wife wanted to visit Chicago last year, and now they get to live here.

Feeling Healthy, Ready to Contribute

Burakovsky had his best NHL season playing for the Colorado Avalanche in 2021-22. He set career highs in goals (22), assists (39), and points (61), while getting his name on the Stanley Cup for the second time. This season caught the eye of the Kraken, and they rewarded him with a five-year, $27.5 million contract. However, he’s coming to Chicago because his three years in Seattle have been injury-plagued, causing his production to drop.

“I had a great time in Seattle,” he said. “I loved the team and the city. It started really good in my first season before I got injured, and the next year, followed up with more injuries. Last year, it was a little bit of a struggle to come back from those injuries. But I finished the season after the trade deadline really well, and that’s something I want to bring into next season.”

In his three seasons with the Kraken, injuries cost Burakovsky 68 games. His 30 goals and 92 points in 127 games don’t inspire greatness. Instead of being the difference maker the Blackhawks need, he fits more into the Jason Dickinson and Ilya Mikheyev category—a veteran player who could succeed with a bigger role in Chicago. Burakovsky says the injuries are behind him, which will be a big plus in having him succeed like Dickinson and Mikheyev.

“I’m feeling healthy,” he said. “I’m having no issues at all. That’s a positive thing, for sure. I’ve been working really hard to be at my best again.”

What Buraskovsky Brings to the Table

So, what exactly do the Blackhawks have in Burakovsky? He has the speed that fits the game the Blackhawks want to play. He’s not afraid to be aggressive off the wing to create scoring chances, which this lineup desperately needs.

“I play with confidence, and I’m not afraid to make mistakes out there,” he said. “I like to challenge guys one-on-one. I want to take the puck away and make all the plays. In Colorado, I had my best years, but we also had a really good team. Everyone was competing every day in practice. That’s one thing I’m looking forward to doing in Chicago.”

Yesterday, Ryan Donato stressed the importance of bringing in guys who have won the Stanley Cup. Burakovsky has two rings in his collection, winning a championship with the Washington Capitals in 2018 and the Avalanche in 2021. If there is one thing I learned about Burakovsky today, it’s how much he believes in working hard during practice.

“It’s the hardest trophy to win in the world,” he said of the Stanley Cup. “To win, you’ve got to perform every single day. Every single game. Every practice. There are no rest days in practice. You’ve got to go all out. If you have a good practice, there’s a better chance you’ll have a good game. That’s something I’m going to bring to the young guys. I’m going to let them know what it takes to win and help the team be better.”

The 30-year-old forward knows he’s walking into a young locker room. While this team is not ready to contend for the postseason, they are inching closer. Burakovsky’s championship experiences will be invaluable to a group that has yet to fight those playoff battles.

“There’s a lot of talent in Chicago,” he said. “I’m going to fit in right where I can help them be better and create more opportunities for them. We can take the next step and become a contender.”

While Burakovsky was acquired to boost the offensive attack, he isn’t a one-trick pony. He will fit into new head coach Jeff Blashill’s mindset that good defensive habits lead to more offensive chances. While his time with the Kraken was a disappointment, it made him a better overall player.”

“When I played in Washington and Colorado, we played a lot of offense,” he said. “In Seattle, it was a little more defense. That’s something I think I’ve improved on during my years in Seattle. I want to be a responsible player on the defensive side, and not just focused on offense.”

We’ll see if Burakovsky can regain his form and become a 50-60-point player again. He will have the opportunity to be a top-six performer. What he does with that opportunity remains to be seen.