Burmistrov on Jets coaches: 'They never believed in me'

Alexander Burmistrov’s rocky relationship with the Winnipeg Jets came to an end in early January when he was plucked off waivers by the Arizona Coyotes.

Despite getting a new lease on life, Burmistrov is still as bitter as a Winnipeg winter at the way he was treated by his former club.

Burmistrov’s frustration over his treatment in Winnipeg is nothing new. The Russian forward made it clear when he bolted Winnipeg for the KHL in 2013 that he was dissatisfied with how he was handled by former coach Claude Noel, from a lack of ice time to a four-game stop in the press box. He also didn’t take his assignment to the AHL during the 2012-13 lockout particularly well, saying he would have much rather spent the time playing for his hometown team of Ak-Bars Kazan.

After two years in the KHL, Burmistrov returned to Winnipeg to play for a new coach in Paul Maurice, but that didn’t go much better. The skilled centre struggled to make an impact in 81 games last season, and only had two assists in 23 games as a frequent healthy scratch this year before the Jets put him on waivers.

Things have gone better for Burmistrov so far in the Dessert, with the 25-year-old matching his output in Winnipeg in his first three games for the Coyotes, including an assist and season-high 20:44 of ice time against the Jets on Thursday.