Alexandre Burrows retires and takes assistant coaching job in Laval

Alexandre Burrows called an end to his incredible career today and quickly took a coaching job in the AHL. We can reflect on his career and what he meant to Vancouver.

Well, all good things must one day come to an end. For Alexandre Burrows, that day is today. He announced his retirement from hockey and the Montreal Canadiens wasted little time, hiring him as an assistant coach for the Laval Rocket. The man is very intelligent and I would have loved it if Vancouver brought him in an advisory role with the team.

Burrows always had the ultimate underdog story. The kid from Pincourt Quebec who was never drafted, often overlooked and didn’t amount to much early in his career. Known better for his ball hockey prowess and ECHL beginnings, the Vancouver Canucks took a chance on Burrows and as they say, the rest was history.

He finishes his 13-year career with 205 goals and 409 points in 913 games. Not bad for a kid that had no chance to make it in this league.

An icon from a great era

Surprisingly, it’s hard for me to put into words what Alex Burrows means to me and the franchise. Everyone has their favourite moments from that incredible era. Whether it was a crazy shorthanded breakaway goal that salvaged the 2008-09 season. Or perhaps it was in the following year when Burrows had hat tricks in back-to-back games.

For me, there is one moment that defines his career in Vancouver. I’m sure you know where this is going, but I’ll give you a little background information. Round one in the 2011 Stanley Cup Playoffs. It’s Game 7 and where am I? At SEA-TAC airport waiting on a flight, watching the final minutes of Chicago vs Vancouver.

Through that small screen on my friend’s smartphone, we all saw something incredible happen on the ice. Chicago was a major roadblock for the Canucks in the playoffs. Everything looked good until we faced them. The series was nerve-racking. Heading to a Game 7 after being up 3-0 in the series is no easy feeling. And that’s when Burrows did it. I’ll let John Shorthouse take the call.

This. This represents everything from that era. Not just a time when the Vancouver Canucks were great. A time where a whole city was unified behind them, a far cry from what it is now. There were so close, but things did not go their way and that’s just how it goes.

However you remember Alex Burrows, share your favourite moments in the comments below. Burrows is a has a guaranteed place in the Ring of Honour and with the franchise’s 50th anniversary coming up, it would be a perfect time to do it.

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Especially if it coincides with the jersey retirement of the two greatest players to ever wear the Canucks logo. There may be a day where Alex Burrows joins the organization in a front office role. He’s expressed interest before and I think his insights would be helpful. Wherever his path may take him, Bonne Chance, Alex! And thank you for 12 seasons I will always remember.