Burakovsky traded to Avalanche by Capitals

Andre Burakovsky was traded to the Colorado Avalanche by the Washington Capitals on Friday for forward Scott Kosmachuk and a second-round and a third-round pick in the 2020 NHL Draft.

"We are excited to be adding a big, fast, skilled winger like Andre," Avalanche general manager Joe Sakic said. "He already has a lot of NHL experience at a young age and is a Stanley Cup winner who has performed well in the playoffs. At just 24, he is entering the prime years of his career, and we feel with an added role he will be a great addition to our team."

Burakovsky can become a restricted free agent July 1; the forward was tendered a qualifying offer by the Capitals this week. He signed a two-year, $6 million contract (average annual value $3 million) on July 4, 2017.

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He had 25 points (12 goals, 13 assists) in 76 regular-season games and two points (one goal, one assist) in seven Stanley Cup Playoff games this season.

Capitals general manager Brian MacLellan said Burakovsky asked to be traded before the NHL Trade Deadline on Feb. 25, preferably to a team that would allow him to play in the top six forwards. He played primarily on Washington's third line.

"We pursued it at the deadline, but it would have had to be a home run then," MacLellan said. "We would have had to bring back a player at that point. To trade him for picks at the deadline didn't make any sense when we were trying to put together a playoff run.

"Had the player not requested the trade, I would have preferred to keep him in that third-line role for this season."

Selected by the Washington in the first round (No. 23) in the 2013 NHL Draft, Burakovsky has 145 points (62 goals, 83 assists) in 328 regular-season games and 18 points (nine goals, nine assists) in 56 playoff games.

He had six points (two goals, four assists) in 13 playoff games to help the Capitals win their first Stanley Cup championship in 2018.

Kosmachuk played this season with Colorado of the American Hockey League, when he had 23 points (12 goals, 11 assists) in 54 games. The 25 year-old last played in the NHL during the 2015-16 season, when he had three assists in eight games for the Winnipeg Jets.