RW Alex Burrows
The Vancouver Canucks just decided they will not buy out Alex Burrows and I just stated he is one of the players who make Derek Dorsett expendable. But yet, Burrows is still on the trade block. The reason is simple: if the Canucks feel the need to clear a roster spot on the wing but cannot move Dorsett, Burrows is the next one in line.
After the past season, Canucks Nation was divided in the Burrows case. He certainly didn’t justify his $4.5 million cap hit, but he was still a valuable part of the team. It might not have been much, but Burrows chipped in 22 points while continuing his gritty style and getting under his opponents’ skin. Burrows has been a Canuck for 11 years and it is hard to imagine him playing in anything other than blue and green.
However, as said before, players like Burrows and Dorsett block roster spots that younger players need to develop. Brendan Gaunce is ready to take the next step in his career, Emerson Etem and Jake Virtanen would at least like a third-line role this season. If Loui Eriksson, Jannik Hansen, Burrows and Dorsett use up the four roster spots on the right side, Etem will be the fourth-line left winger while Gaunce needs to stay in Utica. Not an ideal situation.
The Canucks decided against a buyout for Burrows, but that doesn’t mean he is staying until the end of the year. Burrows is a leader who can chip in points from the bottom six, and he is the kind of player teams like to have in the playoffs. Of course, the Canucks want to make the playoffs and would like Burrows there as well. But for now, I would much rather see Jake Virtanen in the lineup.
That said, Burrows should only be traded if Dorsett can’t be moved.
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