Burakovsky returns with the Kraken, gets his ring
Andre Burakovsky forgot to gaze upward at the championship banner he helped bring to Denver during his morning skate Friday, but he did offer a verdict about ring superiority.
Which Stanley Cup ring is better: the one he won with the Washington Capitols in 2018, or his new addition to the collection?
“Hard to say,” he said. But …
“I think I like this one better.”
In the Colorado Avalanche’s first five games of the 2022-23 season, Burakovsky is already the third departed player from last year’s title-winning team to receive his expensive reward.
He returns to Colorado as the newest left wing for Seattle on Friday night.
Jack Johnson of the Chicago Blackhawks and
Nazem Kadri of the Calgary Flames have already received their rings. The official handoff for Burakovsky was administered by Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog on Friday morning.
Burakovsky’s assessment: “Really nice. Clean. Lot of diamonds. Good design on it.”
He scored one of the most pivotal goals of the championship run. Barely a minute into overtime of Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final, the puck fell to the feet of Avalanche forward J.T. Compher.
He tried to take advantage of the Tampa Bay turnover by firing a quick shot on net, but it was blocked by a defender, creating a rebound opportunity for Valeri Nichushkin.
With Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy out of position, Nichushkin calmly passed across the slot to Burakovsky, who wristed a one-timer into the open net before
Vasilevskiy could get back across.
The Avalanche’s first Stanley Cup Final game in more than two decades ended with teammates rushing to embrace Burakovsky.
“He wa s bat t l ing through a foot injury, too, so he persevered through some pain,” Avalanche defenseman Josh Manson said.
Indeed, Burakovsky was playing through a broken foot.
He wandered out of Seattle’s locker room and spent time with his former teammates Friday morning during the Avalanche skate.
“You just kind of have to know him,” Nathan Mackinnon said. “He doesn’t make a bunch of jokes. His personality is just goofy.”
Burakovsky said he wished he had remembered to take a look at the banner, but he’ll make sure to admire it Friday night.
Francouz in goal
Avalanche defenseman Devon Toews will miss at least one game with an undisclosed injury. Coach Jared Bednar anticipates he will miss Saturday’s game at Las Vegas, too. Bednar described the injury as short-term. Bo Byram will join Cale Makar as the Avalanche’s top defenseman pairing.
Backup goalie Pavel Francouz will be in net for Colorado, matching him up against former Avalanche goalie Philipp Grubauer, who spent three seasons in Denver.
Dryden Hunt will make his Avalanche debut after being claimed off waivers from the New York Rangers on Thursday. He will play left wing on the fourth line. Bednar met with him Friday morning.
“Brushed him up on our systems quickly,” Bednar said. “He sat in on the meeting. Long travel day yesterday, but we’ll just see where it goes.”