NHL Trade Rumors: Senators finalizing trade for Canucks’ Alex Burrows

According to the Ottawa Sun, the Ottawa Senators are finalizing a trade for Vancouver Canucks forward Alex Burrows. 

Usually, the Ottawa Senators aren’t among the aggressive buyers at the NHL trade deadline due to their budget. However, recent injuries to their forwards, most notably Bobby Ryan, have put them in a unique situation. The Vancouver Canucks, on the other hand, have been open to trading some of their pending free agents. A match made in heaven, the two sides are finalizing a trade which would send Burrows to Ottawa.

Don’t be surprised if the Canucks retain some salary due to Ottawa’s budget concerns. Also, Burrows has allegedly agreed to a two-year extension, keeping him in Ottawa past this season.

Joshua Kloke of The Athletic Toronto was the first to report the extension. A return has not been finalized, but a third or second round pick sounds fair, especially if Vancouver takes on some of his contract for this season.

Burrows has nine goals and 11 assists for 20 points this season in 55 games. He plays just under 15 minutes a night, averaging 14:58 of ice time. Burrows breaks even in possession with a 0.2 percent FenwickFor relative percentage. Averaging just over a minute shorthanded in Vancouver, he should help add something to Ottawa’s already potent penalty kill. While he has fallen out of favor in the Canucks power play, averaging under a minute per game, perhaps the Senators will find him some playing time there.

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Overall, this trade helps both sides. The Canucks come out on top, getting something for a player they would have likely lost for nothing in free agency. Kudos to Burrows for waiving his no trade clause. The Senators get a solid forward who should help them replace Ryan short-term and provide them with decent third line depth in the long run.