Things a bit different now, says Burmistrov

By: Paul Wiecek Posted: 3:00 AM CDT Monday, Sep. 21, 2015

ALEX BURMISTROV has quickly learned he has a lot to learn.

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ALEX BURMISTROV has quickly learned he has a lot to learn.

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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 21/09/2015 (3696 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

ALEX BURMISTROV has quickly learned he has a lot to learn.

Burmistrov — returning to the Winnipeg Jets after spending the past two seasons in the KHL — says a lot has changed with this franchise since the last time he wore a Jets jersey, in 2013.

That begins with the system Jets head coach Paul Maurice has his team play, which Burmistrov got his first good look at Sunday in a surprisingly up-tempo — and even chippy — intra-squad scrimmage.

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Drew Stafford — Tribune Media TNS Drew Stafford

“Especially today in the first period, there was lots of things going around my head — you’re thinking about breakout and forecheck and how you do things,” said Burmistrov. “But… we’ll play a couple of exhibition games. I should be fine.”

Burmistrov says the strict system of disciplined defensive hockey under Maurice is not the only difference he sees in the Jets since he last played in Winnipeg under former head coach Claude Noel in the early, lean years of Jets 2.0.

“The dressing room has changed — everybody smiles right now because the team has started winning more, probably.

“It’s kind of the same but different team… Same players but different team.”

And Burmistrov? Has he changed since he was last with the Jets?

“I probably eat more,” he laughed. “I don’t know. I can’t say if I changed or not. Probably a different person than two years ago.”

— — —

Captain Andrew Ladd didn’t practise Sunday.

“He tightened up after (Saturday’s) practice,” said Maurice, going on to explain the lessons of last year have taught him to be firm with his veterans if they’re feeling less than 100 per cent.

“Because of last year and what we know about our veterans, none of these guys are coming off the ice easily. They won’t pull themselves out, they’ll play hurt.

“So anybody who’s got anything that’s bothering them right now, we’ll keep them off the ice. They can do off-ice workouts. There’s lots of hockey ahead of them. We’re not going to let a guy carry a minor injury for two or three days more than he needs to. We’ll just get him back to 100 per cent.”

— — —

Winger Drew Stafford — who joined the team late last season in the big trade with the Buffalo Sabres — says he was impressed with the intensity his team showed in the intra-squad scrimmage.

“It was good. I think as a group, guys have been getting better and better and feeling better as the days have gone on. Obviously, that first day (Friday), we all kind of got rinsed out there.

“And then (Saturday) was a good practice, working on some systems stuff and shaking off a little bit of the rust. Today was when I think we got most of the rust off, especially getting the summer legs out.

“For a first scrimmage, there was a physical element and the pace was there, especially in the first half. We’ll just try to build on it before we start playing some real games.”

paul.wiecek@freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @PaulWiecek