It’s our second “What ever happened to…?” article on former Winnipeg Jets players! We’ve got a few new interesting stories on Alex Burmistrov, Nik Antropov, Eric O’Dell’s post-Jets career.
Alex Burmistrov
Alex Burmistrov was yet another of many failed Atlanta draft picks. He was the 8th overall selection in 2010, but never developed. He never had a chance to go back to juniors, and ended up playing right into the the Thrashers/Winnipeg Jets lineup. We should have realized he was failing before it was too late. It was quite apparent that Burmistrov and Claude Noel (former Winnipeg Jets head coach before Maurice) really weren’t working out. After only two seasons in Winnipeg and three total, he went to the KHL. He spent two years there and came back a bit after hiring Paul Maurice. He only lasted about a season and a half back here in Winnipeg.
When it was Burmistrov’s time to go, people wanted him gone. He never fit into the Jets style of play, and was too much of and “East-West” player. In the NHL, you definitely need to be more “North-South”. The Jets obviously didn’t have any luck finding someone to trade him to, so Burmistrov was waived.
Not long after that, he was gone. He’d been picked up off waivers from a struggling Coyotes team. It was unbelievable how bad of a lineup Arizona hadn’t that year. In Winnipeg, Burmistrov was a 4th liner/scratch but when he went to Arizona he was on the first line. Eventually he got lowered down a bit as guys returned from injury, but he played so much more than with the Jets.
This offseason, Burmistrov signed a one year contract with Vancouver. He hardly produced anything this season. In 24 games he had two goals and four assists before his agent announced he was retiring from the NHL.
I think it fair to call him one of the Thrashers/Jets biggest busts ever.
Nik Antropov
Nik Antropov came over to Winnipeg after being a part of the Atlanta Thrashers. He was a very experienced player and was decent, putting up over half a point per game.
The next year was the half season lockout. Antropov went to go play in Europe like most other players. He was with a team called Astana Barys in the KHL. After the lockout, Nik returned to play the final season of his career in the NHL. He wasn’t overly effective which is likely what lead to his NHL career coming to an end.
The next two seasons he was back in the KHL playing for the same team he had in the lockout. Nik Antropov retired after playing the 2014-15 season.
Eric O’Dell
Eric O’Dell, used to be one of my favourite Jets players, but not for too long. He never played a lot and I only started following him just before he left. O’Dell wasn’t ever a superstar, but he was a hard worker. He played a total of 41 NHL games, all for the Jets. O’Dell was down in the minors for a few years before being called up. He was an effective 4th line/scratch player who got the job done.
After being in the Winnipeg Jets organization for a few years, before he left in free agency. O’Dell signed a deal with Ottawa. He only was playing in the AHL, and got traded at the deadline in a multiple player AHL trade. He was off to Buffalo, but didn’t re-sign in the offseason.
He’s now currently on a team in the KHL called Sochi HC. Eric’s point total this season is 26 in 30 games.