André Burakovsky facts for kids

Quick facts for kids André Burakovsky
Burakovsky in 2024
Born	(1995-02-09) 9 February 1995 (age 30) Klagenfurt, Austria
Height	6 ft 3 in (191 cm)
Weight	201 lb (91 kg; 14 st 5 lb)
Position	Left wing
Shoots	Left
NHL team Former teams	Chicago Blackhawks Washington Capitals Colorado Avalanche Seattle Kraken
National team	Sweden
NHL Draft	23rd overall, 2013 Washington Capitals
Playing career	2011–present

André Burakovsky (born on February 9, 1995) is a professional ice hockey player from Sweden. He plays as a forward for the Chicago Blackhawks in the National Hockey League (NHL). He was first drafted by the Washington Capitals in 2013. André has also played for the Colorado Avalanche and the Seattle Kraken. He is a two-time Stanley Cup champion, winning with the Capitals in 2018 and the Avalanche in 2022.

Playing Career Highlights

André Burakovsky was chosen by SKA Saint Petersburg in the 2012 KHL Junior Draft. The Washington Capitals then picked him in the first round of the 2013 NHL Entry Draft. He started his professional career at just 16 years old in Sweden. This was during the 2011–12 season with the Malmö Redhawks. He also won a silver medal with Team Sweden at the 2012 IIHF World U18 Championships.

In September 2013, Burakovsky signed a three-year contract with the Capitals. He then joined the Erie Otters in the Ontario Hockey League for the 2013–14 season.

Time with the Washington Capitals (2014–2019)

Burakovsky with the Capitals in April 2016.

André Burakovsky scored his first NHL goal in his very first NHL game on October 9, 2014. This made him one of the fastest Capitals players to score their first goal. In the 2015–16 season, he played in 79 games, scoring 17 goals and making 21 assists.

On January 22, 2017, he tied an NHL record. He scored the first goal of the game for his team in four games in a row. This was a rare achievement in the league.

In July 2017, he signed a new two-year contract with the Capitals. Later that year, in October, he needed surgery on his thumb after an injury. He missed about 20 games but returned in December 2017. During the 2018 playoffs, André was injured again and missed some games. When he returned, he scored two important goals in Game 7 against the Tampa Bay Lightning. These goals helped the Capitals reach the 2018 Stanley Cup Finals. Despite some challenges, Burakovsky and the Capitals won the Stanley Cup on June 7, 2018. They beat the Vegas Golden Knights in five games.

Time with the Colorado Avalanche (2019–2022)

Burakovsky with the Avalanche in January 2020

On June 28, 2019, Burakovsky was traded to the Colorado Avalanche. He signed a one-year contract with them in July 2019. He quickly became a key player for the Avalanche. He scored 20 goals for the first time in his career during the 2019–20 season. He also had a career-high 45 points in 58 games. He even had four points (one goal, three assists) in a single game in February 2020.

After the season was paused due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Burakovsky played well in the playoffs. He scored seven goals and had 17 points in 15 games.

In October 2020, he signed a two-year contract extension with the Avalanche. He continued to play a strong role on the team. In February 2021, he played his 400th NHL game. He scored his 100th career goal in May 2021. The Avalanche won the Presidents' Trophy that season for having the best regular season record.

In December 2021, Burakovsky scored his first career hat trick (three goals in one game). This happened in a game against the Florida Panthers. In the 2022 playoffs, the Avalanche had a great run. They swept the Nashville Predators and beat the St. Louis Blues. This sent them to the Western Conference Final for the first time in 20 years. They then defeated the Edmonton Oilers to reach the 2022 Stanley Cup Finals. This was Burakovsky's second time in the Cup Finals. He scored the game-winning goal in overtime in Game 1 against the Tampa Bay Lightning. He scored again in Game 2. However, he broke his thumb and missed the rest of the series. The Avalanche won the Stanley Cup, defeating the Lightning in six games.

Time with the Seattle Kraken (2022–2025)

Burakovsky with the Kraken in December 2022

After his contract with the Avalanche ended, Burakovsky signed a five-year contract with the Seattle Kraken on July 13, 2022. He played the first half of the 2022–23 season. Unfortunately, he suffered a season-ending groin muscle injury in February 2023. He returned for the 2023–24 season but played only six games before another injury. He continued to play for the Kraken through the 2024–25 season.

Time with the Chicago Blackhawks (2025–present)

At the end of the 2024–25 season, André Burakovsky was traded to the Chicago Blackhawks on June 21, 2025. He joined the Blackhawks in exchange for another player, Joe Veleno.

Personal Life

André Burakovsky was born in Klagenfurt, Austria. His father was playing ice hockey there at the time. However, André grew up in Malmö, Sweden, which is his father's hometown. His father, Robert Burakovsky, also played in the NHL for the Ottawa Senators. André's mother is Pernilla Burakovsky. He has two sisters named Alexandra and Anna. His cousin, Samuel Burakovsky, is a professional football player in Sweden.

International Play

André Burakovsky has proudly represented Sweden in several international tournaments. He won a bronze medal with Sweden at the 2024 IIHF World Championship. He also won a silver medal at the 2014 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships.

Awards and Honors

Images for kids

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  Burakovsky in 2024