Arizona GM John Chayka’s made a habit of acquiring low-cost, low-risk assets this season, and that trend continued on Monday.
Per Sportsnet, the Coyotes have claimed Alexander Burmistrov off waivers from the Jets. Burmistrov, 25, has long been a guy high on talent and pedigree -- he was the eighth overall pick in 2010 -- but one that’s struggled to find consistency at the NHL level.
He’s routinely been a healthy scratch for the Jets this year and, recently, expressed frustration about his lack of playing time.
“It’s tough, tough for me because I do not know why I’m not playing, you know,” said Burmistrov, per the Winnipeg Free Press. “I never have a conversation with the coach, so he never tell me why I’m not playing.”
Maurice, for the record, said there have been numerous conversations with Burmistrov -- who has no goals and two assists in 23 games -- and the Jets have reportedly been testing the trade market.
As mentioned above, Chayka does have history in trying to find diamonds in the rough (for lack of a better term). He previously snagged Josh Jooris off waivers from the Rangers, and gave up a seventh-round pick to pry Peter Holland out of Toronto.
It’s worth pointing out that Jooris, Holland and Burmistrov all play center. The Coyotes were thin at that position following Brad Richardson’s badly broken leg, and the club has been rumored to be moving top middle man Martin Hanzal in a trade.
Burmistrov, who did leave the Jets for a two-year KHL sabbatical, is in the last year of a deal that pays $1.55 million annually.