SALT LAKE CITY — Andre Burakovsky has been under intense scrutiny from Blackhawks supporters who question why he remains on the first line despite an extended scoring drought. Though head coach Jeff Blashill maintains faith in Burakovsky, the veteran forward himself is grappling with a persistent confidence struggle that has impacted his performance.
Burakovsky has not scored a goal and contributed just one assist in his last 16 games, a dry spell that has weighed heavily on him.
Work on Restoring Confidence During the Break
“Things have not been coming easy,”
Burakovsky admitted on Sunday.
“I’ve experienced this before in my career, where maybe you start doubting yourself a little bit and confidence is going down and it becomes harder to play. I just worked on myself during the break and tried to build my confidence and get back to just [being] me.”
His efforts to regain form were evident in the Hawks’ 4-0 victory over the Mammoth, and while he has shown some improvement in limiting turnovers and errors across three games post-Olympic break, the elusive goals have yet to materialize.
Coach Blashill’s Strategy to Support Burakovsky
Managing this situation poses a challenge for Blashill. While Burakovsky’s recent output falls short for a top-line forward, Blashill has encountered many players facing similar confidence issues. He believes keeping Burakovsky in his customary role offers the best opportunity to overcome the slump.
“‘Burky’ and I had a good meeting right before the break,”
Blashill revealed last week. “You can tell he was in a little bit of a struggle. It was interesting for me because…in 10-game segments, the segment that we ended with, his scoring-chance plus-minus wasn’t great. But the prior segments were all really good.
“So [he] was only 10 games away from playing really good hockey. That was a reminder, and I told him, ‘This is a reminder for me as much as it is for you.’ Because when he’s struggling, generally the coach is struggling with him.”
Limited Options for Top-Line Forward Positions
The Blackhawks also face a shortage of forwards deemed capable of complementing rising star center Connor Bedard on the top line. Blashill emphasized the skill set required to play alongside Bedard, especially the ability to execute quick give-and-go moves and effectively transport the puck in key moments.
“When [Bedard] gives the puck to you, you’ve got to have enough give-and-go in your game to make sure you get it back to him at the right spots, [and] you’ve got to be able to transport it at times,”
Blashill explained Sunday. He also noted he intends to provide Burakovsky additional opportunity to find his form before considering lineup adjustments.
Burakovsky Appreciates Continued Trust from Coaching Staff
Burakovsky stressed how important Blashill’s support has been during this difficult period.
“You feel like you have the coach’s trust, and that helps you with confidence, too,”
he said.
“But I also want to play better for him because he shows a lot of faith in me.”
During the Olympic break, Burakovsky chose a full mental reset over extra training, taking a family vacation to Mexico and deliberately distancing himself from hockey.
“[I was] trying to get away from hockey over the break, not think about things,”
he said.
“The more you think about it, the worse it’s going to get.”
Performance Context and Long-Term Outlook
Although his recent numbers show a slump, Burakovsky’s overall scoring rate this season remains respectable, with 30 points in 54 games, marking 0.56 points per game—higher than during his last two seasons with the Kraken. With a year remaining on his contract, there is no immediate pressure regarding his status.
Drawing on lessons from his first 11 NHL seasons, Burakovsky reminded himself this setback is temporary. “I always overcame it,” he said. “I always do, eventually. But you want it to be maybe one or two games and then jump back. Now, it’s been a little longer for me. I’m still working on it.
“I’ve been feeling a little better…[although there are] still some puck touches that surprise me. I don’t know why, but it does sometimes. I’m just going to clean that up and play with confidence.”
Looking Ahead: Patience and Confidence Building Are Key
The Blackhawks’ approach with Burakovsky highlights the challenges teams face balancing performance expectations with player confidence. Blashill’s continued trust and willingness to keep Burakovsky in a leading role reflect a belief in the forward’s ability to rebound. If Burakovsky can restore his confidence and improve his execution, it could have a significant positive impact on the Blackhawks’ offensive capabilities moving forward.
Burakovsky turns it over and Coyle finishes for his second of the game pic.twitter.com/iyzmv89Rjw
— BHF (@BlackhawksFocus) January 31, 2026
