"We can be a real threat": Burakovsky believes the fresh start will kickstart his career

Exhausted and dripping in sweat, Andre Burakovsky sat in his locker with his head down. Just having gotten his first taste of the grueling annual conditioning tests that Jared Bednar likes to give his team, the 24-year-old Swede just needed a minute to recover.

As soon as his wind came back to him, he wanted to make one thing clear: He’s excited for a change of scenery.

“I saw it as a good opportunity”, Burakovsky said. “Obviously I want to play more and be involved more. I don’t think I really got that opportunity in Washington. When I heard the news I got traded to Colorado, I was really excited.”

A first round pick of the Washington Capitals in 2013, Burakovsky burst onto the scene as a teenager, and after scoring 17 goals as a 20-year-old, it seemed like he would be a mainstay in Washington’s top six for years to come.

But in the three seasons that followed, the winger saw his production (and ice time) dip, and after just 25 points in 76 games in 2018-19, he knew a change was needed.

The Avalanche are clear believers in Burakovsky’s ability, giving up a second and third round pick in the summer to acquire the 24-year-old. The organization thinks Burakovsky can succeed with more ice time, and that’s exactly what the winger wants.

“I want to play more,” he clarified on Friday. “I think I had good games and obviously my minutes were really low. It’s tough to get something going and be productive, as they were expecting from me. I think that’s the opportunity I’m going to get here. I’m going to try to earn a spot here on the top lines.”

With Mikko Rantanen presently not in camp due to a contract dispute, the Avs’ top line is missing their right winger. On the opening day of camp, Bednar put Burakovsky in that spot to show himself. The results, at least for one day, were just fine.

“Burakovsky, with Mack and Landy, those guys were “OK”, Bednar said after day one of camp. “I thought as a line they fought the puck a bit today.”

About Burakovsky, Bednar added, “Another big strong guy that can skate, and has a head to make plays.”

Having played with guys like Alexander Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom in Washington at times, Burakovsky is no stranger to getting ice time with stars. That may help him if he has to step out on the ice with any of the Avs big guns for extended periods of time.

“Obviously [MacKinnon and Landeskog] two of the best players in the league,” Burakovsky told BSN Denver. “For me, I don’t want to take up too much space from them, but at the same time, I want to have the puck a lot and do my thing. I think it would be fun playing with those guys. We can be a real threat.”

At least for now, Burakovsky finds himself with a chance that many around the league would kill for: playing on a line with two All-Stars.

And that’s exactly what he wants.