Capitals trade Burakovsky to Avalanche
Andre Burakovsky is getting a fresh start in the Mile High City.
The Washington Capitals traded the forward to the Colorado Avalanche for a second-round pick, a third-round selection, and Scott Kosmachuk, the team announced Friday.
Burakovsky fell out of favor in Washington. His ice time dipped to a career-low 11:08 per game this past season and he was rumored to be on the move leading up to the 2019 trade deadline.
It was reported in January that Washington set the asking price for Burakovsky at multiple mid-to-high-round picks.
The 24-year-old winger tallied 12 goals and 13 assists in 76 games during the 2018-19 campaign. His 0.33 points per game marked the lowest of his five-year career. He offers a rare combination of size (6-foot-3), speed, and skill, but was plagued by inconsistency and eventually passed by Jakub Vrana on the club's depth chart at left wing.
Burakovsky is a restricted free agent with arbitration rights and has two more years of club control before he becomes a UFA, according to CapFriendly. He earned $3 million per year on his previous contract.
The third-round selection heading to Washington was originally owned by the Arizona Coyotes but was acquired by the Avalanche in the Carl Soderberg trade on Tuesday.
Kosmachuk, a journeyman minor-leaguer, is a pending UFA.