The Atlanta Thrashers drafted Burmistrov with the eighth overall pick in 2010. He played 298 games for the Thrashers/Winnipeg Jets, but his production dipped this season and he was a healthy scratch for the past month. He has 30 goals and 51 assists on his NHL resume.
The Coyotes are hopeful that coming to a new team will create a spark for the 25-year-old Russian.
"I think any time you get a player that's that highly sought after and drafted, it's interesting to see the first change of scenery what occurs," Chayka said. "We're the first change so we'll see what comes from that. The consensus is he's a good kid, works hard, really wants to make it work in North America and in the NHL. He's looking for a fresh start, looking for an opportunity. For whatever reason, it didn't work out in Winnipeg. They've got a lot of good young forwards that kind of passed him by."
To make room for Burmistrov on the roster, the Coyotes moved forward Ryan White to the injured-reserve list. White suffered a lower-body injury vs. Edmonton on Dec. 21 and hasn't played since. He did not accompany the team to Vancouver on Tuesday.
Burmistrov is expected to join the Coyotes in Vancouver on Tuesday night, but he won't play for the team until this weekend as he works through visa issues. Inserting him into the lineup will allow Head Coach Dave Tippett to move Jordan Martinook from center to wing.
• Defenseman Tony DeAngelo is allowed to practice with the team despite receiving a three-game suspension from the NHL for abuse of officials in Saturday's game at Calgary.
"That's an unfortunate incident," Tippett said. "Our whole group has been frustrated, but that's a big no-no. You don't touch the referees, and I think the NHL has been very consistent with that. I would be very surprised if anything ever happened like that in his career again. That's one he's got to learn from, take the punishment and move on."
• Defenseman Kevin Connauton is back with the team after spending the holiday weekend playing for the Tucson Roadrunners of the American Hockey League.
Connauton, who has played just nine of 37 games for the Coyotes this season, asked to be sent to the AHL, and while there he notched a goal and two assists in two games for the Roadrunners.
"I think it was beneficial and I was happy I was able to do it," Connauton said. "I wish I was playing up here but, regardless, it was good for everyone. It's a really good setup having them so close - you get two games in and come back - so it worked out really well. It was a lot of fun. I was excited to get down there and play. If you ask anyone, everyone just wants to play. Now it's just about building off that and keep moving forward."
• Forward Max Domi, who underwent hand surgery last month, has started skating on his own.
