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3 teams that could benefit by adding Burrows

Jeff Vinnick / National Hockey League / Getty

Alex Burrows had himself a weekend.

The Vancouver Canucks forward put up four points in two games against the Boston Bruins and Buffalo Sabres - snapping a 13-game pointless skid.

Sure, his production is not what it once was, but rest assured that he still has value and is on pace to best last season's 22-point output.

The Canucks are starting to slip out of the playoff picture and Burrows is on the final year of his four-year, $18-million contract. The team should, in turn, be looking to sell off expiring assets and set their sights on next season.

Related: Canucks must sell high on Miller, move on from Burrows at deadline

With 34 points in 70 career playoff games, a knack for killing penalties, and a skill set built for playoff hockey, Burrows is the perfect candidate for a contending team looking to add depth for a Cup run.

Burrows would have to agree to waive his no-trade clause, but in the event he does, here are three teams who would benefit from Burrows' services:

Penguins

(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)

Could the Pittsburgh Penguins be loading up for a repeat? Why not.

The team would be smart to add a defenseman at the deadline, but could also benefit from picking up Burrows.

Carl Hagelin was diagnosed with a concussion last week, Evgeni Malkin is nearing a return from a lower-body injury that has kept him out since Jan. 24, and Conor Sheary remains sidelined. The team could use some insurance and someone capable of chipping in both offensively and defensively, while aiding their porous penalty kill.

Burrows might not be a game-changer for the Penguins, but if Hagelin, Nick Bonino, and Bryan Rust proved anything last year, it's that championship teams need their role players.

Blackhawks

It might shock you to know that the Chicago Blackhawks currently boast the third-worst penalty kill in the NHL. The team is killing off infractions just 76.8 percent of the time, with only the Dallas Stars and Sabres managing worse.

The Blackhawks' forte over the last few seasons has been adding depth to their roster ahead of the postseason and they may be up to their old tricks again.

Chicago could use the penalty-killing services of Burrows, while a couple more goals from their bottom six forwards would be great.

The club should know first hand that when the playoffs begin, Burrows steps up his game, as it was Burrows who eliminated the Blackhawks during the quarterfinals in 2011 with a Game 7 overtime tally.

Wild

(Photo courtesy: Action Images)

The Minnesota Wild don't need to do much to make themselves a contender, they can already been considered as such.

Nevertheless, adding that extra piece can work wonders for a team that has reached the third round of the playoffs just once in its previous 16 seasons.

A team with the fourth-best offense and second-best defense - in terms of goals for and goals against - needs to add very little, but some depth on the fourth line could help give the team a fully capable four-line unit.

The line currently boasts the likes of Chris Stewart, Erik Haula, and Jordan Schroeder. Burrows could replace Schroeder giving some added experience and a more reliable offensive option.

Small tweaks are all the Wild should be looking for ahead of the trade deadline and Burrows sounds like the perfect option for them.

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