Today in NHL news the Washington Capitals have traded forward and Restricted Free Agent (RFA) Andre Burakovsky to the Colorado Avalanche for Colorado’s second round pick in 2020, Arizona’s third round pick in 2020 (previously acquired by Colorado in the Carl Soderberg trade earlier this week), and minor league forward Scott Kosmachuk.
For both the Capitals and Burakovsky this has been a long time coming and is best for both parties. While the Capitals have been patient in working with Burakovsky and his development, that patience has run out as Burakovsky has never been able to bring consistency to his game which has resulted in being healthy scracthed at times to have the message sent to him that he can be better.
Also for Burakovsky a fresh start somewhere else was also needed. He will have an opportunity to grow his game in a new atmosphere with a team that is hungry to win in the Avalanche. Plus the idea of Andre Burakovsky with the likes of a Gabriel Landeskog or Nathan MacKinnon doesn’t sound bad either.
Now in return for the Capitals they were able to receive two draft picks in next year’s draft, as well as minor leaguer Scott Kosmachuk who will be a free agent on July 1st. the Capitals also freed up Cap Space going into Free Agency so they can re-sign some key players and see what other additions could be possibly out there to sign.
For a trade that should have done months ago, it has finally happened. Both parties benefit from this trade, and that’s why this trade is good solid one for the Capitals and Avalanche.
