The Ottawa Senators have opened the season on a strong note, but Andre Burakovsky’s start has been the opposite of what they need while injuries begin to stack up.
Through seven games, the veteran forward has not posted a goal or an assist, and he has already been scratched as a healthy player. That leaves Ottawa in a tricky spot. The team is getting good results, but the absences around the lineup are forcing others into bigger jobs, and Burakovsky was brought in to help, not disappear from the picture.
The frustrating part for Ottawa is that the offensive upside is obvious. Burakovsky has been a proven scorer in the NHL and has hit the 20-goal mark multiple times.
That track record is part of the reason the Senators added him. But reputation only carries a player so far when the points aren’t coming now.
Seven games is still a small sample, yet the concern grows when a player with his resume has already landed in the press box. With injuries thinning the roster, Ottawa needs every forward it can trust to contribute in some fashion. Burakovsky does not have to drive the offense, but he does need to give the Senators some secondary scoring and make the most of the opportunity in front of him.
If that doesn’t happen, the conversation shifts from patience to practicality. Ottawa may have to consider waivers if the skid continues. It would be a difficult call because of his NHL experience and what he has done in the past, but the Senators cannot keep waiting indefinitely if they have other options.
One route would be opening a spot for Sammy Blais or Philip Tomasino from the Belleville Senators, who has earned an opportunity. Either could bring a different look, some fresh energy, and another option for the coaching staff while the injury situation lingers.
There is also the possibility that another team claims Burakovsky, which would let Ottawa move on from his contract and the salary-cap implications without paying the rest. But after this start, that feels unlikely, which would leave the Senators with a buried cap hit. That would still beat paying a player $5.5 million to not produce.
For Ottawa, the decision comes down to the simplest thing in hockey: what helps the team win right now. At the moment, placing Burakovsky on waivers has to be part of that discussion.
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