Chesnokov: Burmistrov seeks NHL return
/Dmitry Chesnokov was on TSN 1290 Wednesday morning.
On Alex Burmistrov:
“He wants to come back to the NHL. Yesterday I even reached out to his North American agent who wouldn’t confirm that this is indeed the fact, but it sounded at least from the tone of the voice and through the comments that were given that they are ready to get together and pursue a move. But nothing I think concrete will happen until probably next spring.“
How has he been doing in the KHL?
“Well, considering the coaching system he’s under right now... you wouldn’t expect Alexander Burmistrov to score that many goals and that many points. He’s still seen as one of the young, sort of valuable members in the KHL. The same goes for playing for the national team. The KHL is going to have a break for one of the Euro Hockey Tour legs and it’s very likely that Burmistrov is going to play there. It’s not bad. He’s actually doing quite well.”
Would Burmistrov want to come back to Winnipeg?
“I wouldn’t rule it out. Here’s why – and again, I spoke with Mark Gandler yesterday and Mark said that wasn’t his decision or his advice for Burmistrov to leave. So it was something that Burmistrov did and the reasons for it, whatever they are, we’re already two years almost removed from that. So he’s had a lot of time to consider what was done and the steps he took and he’s a more mature player, an older player. So I think he realizes the dream that he had as a little kid to play in the NHL – he just needs to get over whatever maybe personal feelings he may have had toward certain people and just needs to prove himself on the ice. He wants to come back. If it’s with the Jets, the franchise that drafted him, I’m sure he’s going to be all for it.”
On Burmistrov’s mindset when he was with Winnipeg, and how it may have partially been due to the adjustment from the European way to the NHL style. He had a difference of opinion and wouldn’t make that adjustment:
“Very, very, very likely. Again, he came over young, right? He played in the juniors and was like, ‘This is what I’m going to try to and prove that I want to play in the NHL’ but it’s more than words. You really need to understand that you have to pay your dues. You have to listen. It’s not about you. It’s about the system and the coaching staff, right? So over the last two years, he had a chance to experience something else. And because he was brought up through the North American type of hockey, I think he realized he really doesn’t fit in the KHL. He fits in more in North America. I think he realizes – again, we all learn from our mistakes. When we’re young, we’re sort of idealistic and ambitious and sometimes revolt and that type of thing. So I think he’s come to realize that to be a better player you need to listen. You need to (learn) the system. It’s not all about you. And I think he’s ready to prove that.”
Source: TSN 1290/ Transcript: Nichols on Hockey