Not unexpected, but Avs suffer loss in free agency as Burakovsky departs
Jul 13, 2022, 12:57 PM | Updated: 1:08 pm
They were never going to be able to keep everyone.
Colorado Avalanche forward and Stanley Cup champion Andre Burakovsky is leaving in free agency, headed to the Seattle Kraken on a five-year deal. Burakovsky, Nazem Kadri and Darcy Kuemper all hit the open market on Wednesday morning. Kuemper signed a five-year deal with the Washington Capitals.
Burakovsky signs with Seattle. 5 years at $5.5 mil Aav.
— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) July 13, 2022
Burakovsky will be remembered most for his OT winner in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final against the Lightning, a snipe into the lower-right portion of the goal that gave the Avs a 4-3 win and 1-0 series lead. He also scored in Game 2, a 7-0 beatdown of Tampa Bay.
The winger played in 12 of the 20 Avalanche’s playoff games, battling hand and ankle injuries throughout the postseason. He finished with eight points, tallying three goals and five assists. He was solid in the regular season as well, scoring 22 goals and adding 39 assists.
The Avalanche re-signed Josh Manson and Darren Helm on Wednesday morning, dwindling their salary cap space. They also inked restricted free agent Artturi Lehkonen to a five-year deal on Wednesday afternoon. A large portion of what they had left was eaten up by Valeri Nichushkin’s 8-year, $49 million deal signed on Monday.
The roster will look a little different next season, but even without Burakovsky, the Avs are locked and loaded for another deep playoff run.
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