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Team Sweden’s Andre Burakovsky: ‘We are better than Canada on paper’
It is not bragging if it is is backed up and no one's paid to be humble. André Burakovsky, the Washington Capitals first-round pick who has 23 goals in a half-season with the OHL's Erie Otters, was not exactly a word-mincer when it came to comparing and contrast world U20 championship Sweden against Canada.
Sweden, of course, has finished ahead of Canada at the world junior for the past two seasons, going gold-silver compared to the Maple Leaf's bronze in 2012 and, uh, antique bronze last season. So Burakovsky isn't completely out of line. He's just confident like any Canadian who might mouth some homily such as "We're going over there and expecting to win the gold."
The gist of it, from Christer Cederlund. Hopefully not much context is lost in the partial quotes and the translation:
" I know what Canada brings and if I look at what they have and what we have, so I think I can say that we have a better team on paper.
... We are more well-rounded, more skill mixed with physical games. But we will see how things play out in the end." (Skanskan.se)There's also a comment about Canada not having a "skill player," but something must be lost in translation. That seems a bit odd seeing how Burakovsky usually takes right wing on 16-year-old phenom Connor McDavid's line in Erie. Canada also has Jonathan Drouin, who was taken 20 picks before Burakovsky during the NHL draft.
Rest is fine, until demonstrated otherwise during the tournament. Sweden has 10 players back from its silver medal-winning '13 team and it's playing at home. Burakovsky's Erie pal, Columbus Blue Jackets prospect Oscar Dansk, is having a terrific season in the OHL and was the first 1994-born goaltender drafted in 2012.
Canada and Sweden play a pre-competition game on Sunday (TSN/RDS, 12 noon ET/9 am. PT).
Neate Sager is a writer for Yahoo! Canada Sports. Follow him on Twitter @neatebuzzthenet. Please address any questions, comments or concerns to btnblog@yahoo.ca.
