Fansided

5 dark horse candidates to get traded at the NHL Trade Deadline

By Griffin Youngs

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JANUARY 29: Chris Kreider #20 of the New York Rangers argues a second period call during the game against the Philadelphia Flyers at Madison Square Garden on January 29, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JANUARY 29: Chris Kreider #20 of the New York Rangers argues a second period call during the game against the Philadelphia Flyers at Madison Square Garden on January 29, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /
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OTTAWA, ON – DECEMBER 22: Washington Capitals Left Wing Andre Burakovsky (65) stretches during warm-up before National Hockey League action between the Washington Capitals and Ottawa Senators on December 22, 2018, at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, ON, Canada. (Photo by Richard A. Whittaker/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
OTTAWA, ON – DECEMBER 22: Washington Capitals Left Wing Andre Burakovsky (65) stretches during warm-up before National Hockey League action between the Washington Capitals and Ottawa Senators on December 22, 2018, at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, ON, Canada. (Photo by Richard A. Whittaker/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

Andre Burakovsky

The defending Stanley Cup champion Washington Capitals have a tough decision to make when it comes to Andre Burakovsky. On the one hand, he hasn’t lived up to expectations as a top six winger over the last multiple seasons, on the other hand, he shows flashes of utter brilliance that reflects why he was a first round pick back in 2013. The talent is all there, but it just all hasn’t come together, leading the common solution to be a change of scenery. But would that really be best for the Capitals as the get ready for another playoff run?

Andre Burakovsky has been poised for a breakout season for a second straight year, but once again has not met the expectation of being a top six forward. Through 50 games this season, Burakovsky has seven goals and nine assists for 16 points, and has been a healthy scratch for the Capitals at some points during the season for failing to take advantage of his opportunities. Burakovsky will an RFA at the end of this season, and currently has a cap hit of $3M. The minimum contract he can sign to prevent him from becoming an UFA in the offseason is $3.25M, a steep price for a 24 year old yet to eclipse 40 points.

Teams like the Dallas Stars, Colorado Avalanche, and Vancouver Canucks have been the teams that have been connected the most to Burakovsky amidst the trade rumors. Obviously, Burakovsky is more than just a trade deadline rental, and will have to be in a teams long term plans if they make a trade for him. As Washington’s GM Brian MacLellan has said, the team is not interested in futures at this point in time, and wants something to help the team win right now. It’s the Capitals would would likely include Burakovsky in a package deal for a roster player like a top six winger or top four right handed defenseman, or take the futures and use those assets as a way to acquire that same improvement.

The thing with Burakovsky is that the talent is all there. His flashes of skill are phenomenal, but are often anomalies. When he’s good, he’s an unmistakeable top six talent that can hardly be stopped. When he’s bad, everythings going wrong at the same time. Turnovers, scoring slumps, can’t even hit the net, you name it. If he can just figure out some consistency, he’ll be a fantastic addition to whatever team he finds himself on.

A month ago, it would’ve been all but a forgone conclusion that Burakovsky was getting a fresh start with another team before the trade deadline, and probably wouldn’t make this list at all. But recently he has begun to make a case for himself that he deserves to stay for at least the rest of this season. Since returning from the all star break, Burakovsky has re-found his chemistry with Lars Eller and Brett Connolly, igniting that third line to producing to the point that was expected of them. To move him would mean to take a gamble that whoever you acquire fits into the system, and doesn’t interrupt the flow that third line is in. There are other assets that the Capitals have to improve their team, without having to subtract from their roster.

Overall, unless the Capitals get a surefire upgrade to their top nine in return for Burakovsky, it wouldn’t make much sense to move on from him at this point in time especially now that he is seemingly to find a groove on the third line with Brett Connolly and Lars Eller. With the exception of Jakub Vrana, the Capitals really don’t have a lot of future on the wings. If at the end of the season it still makes sense to move Burakovsky, that would be a better time to make a deal.

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