As expected, Anton Burdasov will try to land a job in the NHL with the Edmonton Oilers this fall. The Russian winger has signed a professional tryout with the Edmonton Oilers. Igor Eronko of Sport-Express reported last month that there was interest from several teams. Burdasov has spent the last decade playing in the KHL, most recently with Ufa Salavat Yulayev.
Burdasov, 28, was never drafted by an NHL team, but slowly became one of the more consistent offensive pieces in the KHL. The 6’2″ 227-lbs winger not only scored 19 goals last season in 50 games, but he also led the KHL in penalty minutes with 114. With the Oilers desperately searching for answers on the wing, that kind of size and scoring ability could be very useful.
With Edmonton sitting close to the cap, they couldn’t commit to Burdasov without seeing him in action on an NHL rink. Bringing him in on a tryout basis will give them a much closer look at what he can offer, and whether or not he could fit into their group. He’s already reported to camp and is in uniform, giving him plenty of time to make an impact on the coaching staff and players.
Budasov = Burdasov (the “r” was lost in translation…)
And, the “r” has been found! Igor is very happy! He gets a cut of the PTO, should Anton earn it. Unknown Russian stars + EDM = no track record of success in recent years. Maybe he’ll be different. We shall see…