It’s been a tough start to the season for the Washington Capitals and their fans, as the team announced that forward Andre Burakovsky will be out for 6-8 weeks with an upper body injury.
Burakovsky, who was drafted 23rd overall in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft, has been a key contributor for the Capitals over the past few seasons. He has posted career highs in goals (17) and points (38) in the 2016-17 season, and was expected to build on those numbers this season.
The injury is a major blow for the Capitals, as Burakovsky was expected to be a key part of the team’s offense this season. He was expected to play on the top line with captain Alex Ovechkin and center Evgeny Kuznetsov, and his absence will force the team to find a suitable replacement.
The Capitals have already had to deal with the loss of center Nicklas Backstrom, who is out with a hand injury. With both players out of the lineup, the team will have to rely on other players to pick up the slack.
It’s unclear at this point how long Burakovsky will be out of action, but it’s likely that he won’t be back until at least mid-November. In the meantime, the Capitals will have to find a way to stay competitive without two of their top offensive players.
It’s a difficult situation for the Capitals, and it remains to be seen how they will respond. For now, all fans can do is hope that Burakovsky makes a speedy recovery and can help the team get back on track.
