Jets Burmistrov says fans have been nice, hopes it continues heading into tonight’s game

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This article was published 22/09/2015 (3695 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

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He walked away, no doubt unhappy, more than two years ago.

Much has changed since Alex Burmistrov left the Winnipeg Jets in 2013 and he hopes his return to the MTS Centre tonight to be a near non-event.

The 23-year-old forward, who spent the last two seasons in the KHL, is in the Jets’ lineup tonight for the first pre-season game. The Minnesota Wild are the visitors for the 7 p.m. start.

“Nervous? Little bit, yeah,” Burmistrov said after this morning’s skate downtown. “It’s been awhile, two years, right? Right now I’m not feeling that much but when I step on the ice, probably.

“I hope this will be the first and last time (I’m nervous). I’ve been playing in this rink, I know this rink and I’ve played in this league. I think it will be just one night nervous. Hope so.”

Burmistrov, who will skate on a line with Mathieu Perreault and Nikolaj Ehlers, also said he’s hoping for a favourable ride from fans tonight.

“You know, sometimes I think about that,” he said. “So far they’ve been good to me so I hope they’re not going to boo me. They’ve been nice.

“I just feel good about it. Nobody’s told me anything bad.”

The Jets have several prospects and hopefuls in tonight’s game lineup and head coach Paul Maurice said it’s important to distinguish between groups of players for these outings during training camp.

“There’s kind of two groups out there, guys that are fighting for jobs and guys who know they have them and are trying to work their way into the game and work their way into NHL hockey,” Maurice said today. “It’s very difficult to get to that NHL season energy level. Younger players fighting for NHL jobs will drive that intensity.”

One of the Jets’ young players in that group will be Joel Armia, who plays with Andrew Copp and Brendan Lemieux tonight.

All three can be considered in that group of players making their bids.

Armia, who came over from Buffalo in last February’s blockbuster trade, was as calm as could be this morning, the day of his first appearance at the MTS Centre.

“I feel really good,” the 22-year-old forward said. “I think it’s been a good camp so far but there’s lot of days ahead.”

Armia, who has played two pro years, mostly in the AHL, said today he’s not nervous at all about his first game in a Jets’ uniform.

“Actually no, I haven’t thought much about it,” he said. “I’m a little surprised myself. But I feel like I’m confident and I’m relaxed and that’s a good thing. Not nervous at all.”

tim.campbell@freepress.mb.ca