At this point in time the Winnipeg Free Press's Gary Lawless is engaging in speculation and rumor about the Jets Alexander Burmistrov wanting out of Winnipeg. That's not to say this won't end up being confirmed, but right now it's just by the word of "sources." Although when asked, Burmistrov's agent, Mark Gandler only said his client "The only question I'm going to answer is to say that Alex is not going to sign in the KHL." Gandler didn't emphatically say that Burmistrov wants to re-sign with Winnipeg and that the only roadblock is salary or any other things to negotiate. But he also didn't say Burmi wanted to be traded...yet.
The Jets have yet to reply to any queries about the matter.
If it is true, it isn't all that surprising, given that Burmistrov had problems with Coach Claude Noel this past season, being a healthy scratch for four games in March. The thing is, it seems that, at least at this point, Burmistrov wants to play his way instead of playing how the coaches want him to play. That includes assistant coaches Charlie Huddy and Pasqual Vincent. They want him to play a north-south game whereas he wants to play or at least is more comfortable with, an east-west style and has a bit of a fit when he is chastised for it. Some may call that being a prima-donna. For the record, even Burmistrov's best friend on the team, Nik Antropov has said Burmistrov needs to "grow up."
With only 23 goals and 58 points in 194 over the past three seasons dating back to his first year in Atlanta, Burmistrov doesn't exactly have the statistics to demand any leverage in contract negotiations with any team in the NHL. If Burmistrov is moved, it wouldn't be the worst thing ever for his career. Many times in the past a young, potentially break-out star did just that when he found his niche with a new team. The again, the same situation was mentioned about Evander Kane just last summer. Rumors were rampant that Kane wanted out of Winnipeg just before he inked a six-year, $31.5 million deal.
As all things, this too will come out in the wash.
