13°c Overcast
12°c Rain
Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION
Put Burmi in, see if he learned anything
Play talented forward or consider trade
Tampa Bay Lightning defenceman Matt Carle passes the puck past Winnipeg Jets centre Alexander Burmistrov during an NHL game in Tampa, Fla. (BRIAN BLANCO / THE ASSOCIATE PRESS)
Claude Noel's point should have sunk in by now. It's time to find out.
Alex Burmistrov needs to go back in the lineup. It's also time for Burmistrov to show he's capable of learning and maturing as a player.
Burmistrov is talented -- an asset. But not if the coach won't use him. A gifted player, no matter his perceived shortcomings, is useless in the press box.
Noel is also culpable in this little drama. Part of his job is to figure out how to coach Burmistrov. Giving up on him is unacceptable at this stage. There's no limit to the talent Burmistrov owns.
Noel has demonstrated his power to the player. Now it's time to find a way to get what he wants from him. That, or tell the GM it's just not happening and to try to swing a deal to get equal value. Then live with the consequences of moving a first-round pick still on his entry-level contract.
Either way, there must be a resolution, because Burmistrov remains an asset. One to be played or one to be leveraged.
Despite an excellent run on the penalty kill, the Jets need Burmistrov's presence on the PK and in their bottom six forwards. The fourth line has barely played, garnering poor results when it has.
Burmistrov is without question an upgrade in talent from a number of forwards the Jets used in Sunday's 4-1 loss to the Ottawa Senators.
Is he a better team player? That's up to him and now is the time for him to decide. It's pout or play.
Noel has kept his reasons for holding Burmistrov out of the lineup to himself, but it's no leap to conclude it boils down to the talented third-year pro not playing within the coach's structure.
Noel wants his team to play a north-south style and Burmistrov wants to freelance and zig-zag.
The Jets won the first three games with Burmistrov out and as long as the team is winning it's difficult to mount a case against Noel's choices. The fact the Jets shot up to third in the conference cemented Noel's thinking.
Burmistrov is going to be a pro for a long time but he has lessons to learn. Key among them right now is learning the coach is the boss and playing within the structure he sets down is the way to stay in the lineup.
Either way it's time to find out what Alex Burmistrov is made of.
Put him in, coach.
gary.lawless@freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @garylawless
Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition March 18, 2013 C1
History
Updated on Monday, March 18, 2013 at 10:08 AM CDT: adds comma to last sentence
More Columnists
- Back to Top
- Return to Columnists
About Gary Lawless
Gary Lawless is the Free Press sports columnist and co-host of the Hustler and Lawless show on TSN 1290 Winnipeg and www.winnipegfreepress.com
Lawless began covering sports as a rookie reporter at The Chronicle-Journal in Thunder Bay after graduating from journalism school at Durham College in Ontario.
After a Grey Cup winning stint with the Toronto Argonauts in the communications department, Lawless returned to Thunder Bay as sports editor.
In 1999 he joined the Free Press and after working on the night sports desk moved back into the field where he covered pro hockey, baseball and football beats prior to being named columnist.
Poll
Most Popular Columnists
- Katz bogeys again
- 'It's a beautiful story': There's not always a tomorrow to say you're sorry or make things right
- Tell husband you're not talking to her... maybe tell him why
- Mount Carmel Clinic: An oasis of acceptance in a judgmental world
- Ex-Jets MacLean, Carlyle on Sochi coaching list
- Beckham a true pro from start to finish, detractors be danged
- More than a new boss
- Can't lose when ends justify means
- Tell your 'best friend' to try women his age
- New Blue stadium lives up to the hype; now it's up to you
- 'It's a beautiful story': There's not always a tomorrow to say you're sorry or make things right
- Katz bogeys again
- Burke will be back; he's just that good
- When money talks, it says, 'End fighting in the NHL'
- White sucker right for Manitoba
- New Blue stadium lives up to the hype; now it's up to you
- Mount Carmel Clinic: An oasis of acceptance in a judgmental world
- There's more to the story than golf
- Cancer doesn't care who it may kill
- CFL gains when draft picks go south
- Goodbye, Susan; a privilege to know you
- Twins are theirs, but province doesn't agree
- Bun Brouhaha: Kitchen staff's snap firing worthy of reality TV
- Beloved piece of Winnipeg's music history deserves better
- Cyclists, cars, and cops don't mix
- Facebook pokes Manitoba
- Winter is coming
- Dugouts could change the game
- White sucker right for Manitoba
- 'It's a beautiful story': There's not always a tomorrow to say you're sorry or make things right
- 'It's a beautiful story': There's not always a tomorrow to say you're sorry or make things right
- Katz bogeys again
- 'It's a beautiful story': There's not always a tomorrow to say you're sorry or make things right
- New Blue stadium lives up to the hype; now it's up to you
- Late deal in workplace sex-harassment case
- Can a Canadian handle tackle duties on Bombers' O-line?
- 3D printers will make outsourcing so yesterday
- Explore Desire seminars to 'push the boundaries'
- Going gluten-free doesn't mean giving up foods you love
- Cancer doesn't care who it may kill
- Mount Carmel Clinic: An oasis of acceptance in a judgmental world
- No better place to be than Fort McMurray
- Twins are theirs, but province doesn't agree
- 'It's a beautiful story': There's not always a tomorrow to say you're sorry or make things right
- Bun Brouhaha: Kitchen staff's snap firing worthy of reality TV
- Dugouts could change the game
- Happily selling shoes at age 89
- Facebook pokes Manitoba
- White sucker right for Manitoba
- New Blue stadium lives up to the hype; now it's up to you
- Cyclists, cars, and cops don't mix
- Selinger's ability to sell case weak link in tax-hike plan
Ads by Google
You can comment on most stories on winnipegfreepress.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is register and/or login and you can join the conversation and give your feedback.
Have Your Say
New to commenting? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions.
The Winnipeg Free Press does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comment, you agree to our Terms and Conditions. These terms were revised effective April 16, 2010.