Earlier this off-season, the Chicago Blackhawks acquired forward Andrei Burakovsky from the Seattle Kraken in exchange for Joe Veleno. With the Blackhawks needing more offense and having plenty of cap space to work with, it is understandable that they are taking a chance on a veteran like Burakovsky.
After a shaky 2023-24 season that saw him record just seven goals and nine assists in 49 games with Seattle, Burakovsky bounced back a bit in 2024-25. In 79 games this past season with the Kraken, he scored 10 goals and posted 37 points. Overall, while his offense was not as high as his best days, there is no question that he gave Seattle solid secondary production. Now, he will be looking to carry that over to the Blackhawks.
When looking at the Blackhawks' current roster, it is apparent that Burakovsky has a golden opportunity in front of him. He is now easily one of their top wingers on paper, so he should have a spot in both the Blackhawks' top six and on their power play. As a result, he should be put in a position to succeed with his new club.
If Burakovsky gets his offense back even further in a second-line role for the Blackhawks, he would be a very strong addition to their roster. The possibility of him doing so should not be ruled out, and it will be fascinating to see if he can take advantage of the opportunity in front of him.
