The Curious Importance Of Adam Burish to The Dallas Stars

by Brad Gardner on Mar 24, 2011 3:28 PM CDT in Dallas Stars Analysis

When last the Ducks stabbed the Dallas Stars through the heart with their really, really old Finnish super star Teemu Selanne to tie the game late in the third period before their eventual overtime winner on March 4th in Anaheim, Adam Burish was on the ice to defend a 3-2 lead.

He technically won the faceoff that preceded the tying goal by nine seconds. He then lost the faceoff in overtime that went directly to Lubomir Visnovsky for the game winner and was on ice for both goals.

Still they would have liked to have had him out there last night at the end because for some strange reason the Dallas Stars just can't win without him.

	Record	Points	Points %
With Burish	36-17-7	79	.658
Without Burish	2-8-3	7	.269

Now, we're willing to concede that this evidence is flawed, circumstancial, the sample size "without" is too small and it's all probably meaningless but the fact remains that Chicago is the one and only team they've beaten without him. There's no quantitative reason for it. He's a good faceoff man but they've done alright in that area recently, including last night. He doesn't score too much. Toby Petersen has filled in quite nicely on the PK. Yet it seems they need him.

He finally got back on skates today and was on the ice alone for "10-15" minutes, which is a good first step. He will accompany the team on the road trip to Nashville and the West Coast as well where he hopes to be able to skate with the team at some point, be around the guys, and influence the proceedings when possible.

"I want to try to skate there and be around the guys," he told media today. "I want to be on the schedule, I want to stay around the guys, I want to stay in the loop and I want to be supportive where I can."

Will he get back in time, is the question. His positive attitude and leadership in the room has been important since game one in New Jersey. He told us in November that this group needed someone to help them believe that they were a good team. He undoubtedly helped them build that confidence.

As for Saturday it appears the lineup will likely be the same in Nashville as Karlis Skrastins doesn't appear to be making significant enough progress. Brad Lukowich and Mark Fistric looked good in relief of he and Grossman.

As some readers and Tweeters suggested, maybe they should dress Adam and just sit him on the bench in the mean time. It's almost time to start trying anything.

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Comments

He's a spark plug, pure and simple.

For some reason, when I looked up the records I was off by a game, but even so, this makes him even more valuable. They need him. His stat sheet may not be the most glorious thing to look at, but he makes this team better by being on the ice. The records with and without don’t lie.

by Travis Drybread on Mar 24, 2011 3:34 PM CDT reply actions

Razor had it at 2-10-2 on his blog

but I think that’s wrong. I’ve got Burish out for the last two games (OTL’s) and the Phoenix game on February 9th, also an OTL. So…3.

Defending Big D

by Brad Gardner on Mar 24, 2011 3:43 PM CDT up reply actions

I went to his game log, tallied the record, and subtracted it from the overall record and got

2-8-3 without him

36-17-7 with him.

But either way, be it two this way or that way, his presence with the team is paramount.

by Travis Drybread on Mar 24, 2011 3:46 PM CDT up reply actions

Yeah you're probably right.

Defending Big D

by Brad Gardner on Mar 24, 2011 4:00 PM CDT up reply actions

IIRC, Burish had a similar influence on the Hawks during their playoff run last year.

When he played, they won. When he didn’t, they struggled. Seems like he is a huge motivator, no matter where he’s playing.

by WingnutInStarsCountry on Mar 24, 2011 3:34 PM CDT reply actions

I’m going to get in so much trouble for saying this, but I just can’t help myself.

He told us in November that this group needed someone to help them believe that they were a good team. He undoubtedly helped them build that confidence.

Isn’t that what a captain is supposed to do?

by schtimpy27 on Mar 24, 2011 3:35 PM CDT reply actions

Brendan leads by example

And leaves it all out there on the ice every night, there is no denying that. But this team seems to be lacking vocal leadership. Guys who will motivate, pick you up, and get in your face if necessary. Ott and Burish provide this to some extent, and I think this is why Burish is so important. You need some leaders with personality as well as with work ethic. Stars aren’t lacking in work ethic, but need an emotional center as well. The Cup teams had the perfect balance – quiet leaders in Hatch, Niewy, Mo, Lehts, but also had strong vocal leadership in Keane, Carbo, Verbeek, Ludwig, etc. Stars need a little more of the latter.

The Real Deal in section 318

by Rizory on Mar 24, 2011 3:50 PM CDT up reply actions

yep

it seems like the last couple years of losing have gotten to Morrow, and he’s lost confidence in himself and the team. The ability to calm everyone down and get them all to regroup doesn’t seem to be there. Almost like the difference in Morrow and Burish is that when Morrow says “we can still do this,” he says it with just mere hope, and Burish says it with true belief, and that makes a difference. When someone can look you in the eye and honestly tell you that they believe you can and will get the job done, it means so much more and has a much greater effect than when someone only says they think you are capable.

by PSyCo2012 on Mar 24, 2011 3:54 PM CDT up reply actions

That's what I wonder too..

…I mean, seriously! Someone needed to VOCALLY tell this bunch they were good enough to beat the best? I wonder what else Burish did- warm their milk, bottle-feed them, change their diapers, and put lotion on their buttocks?

by Dallas_Stars74 on Mar 24, 2011 4:27 PM CDT up reply actions

It is a lot easier for

somebody from the outside … someone on a team that just won the cup to come in and say you guys are a good team. Brendan has probably been saying that for a couple of years and since he was on those bad teams it is a easy to tune him out.

It takes all types in the room to create that elusive chemistry. Burish is a part of it … but make no mistake, Brendan is too.

by 1paniolo on Mar 24, 2011 8:22 PM CDT up reply actions

If nothing more, put him in a suit on the bench with the team.

Based on the record alone, his being with them is important enough that he needs to be as close to them on game nights as humanly possible.

by Travis Drybread on Mar 24, 2011 3:48 PM CDT reply actions

How does this look?

                               C
                DALLAS
                     16

I love Morrow to death but does any one agree? Not only does he put his heart on the ice every night, he gives everyone the confidence in the locker room that this team can beat anybody anywhere. He does whatever it takes to win a hockey game.

by JQ$ on Mar 24, 2011 4:03 PM CDT reply actions

I couldn't imagine Morrow being stripped of his captaincy...

But I was just thinking the same. Morrow is probably my favorite player, with Jamie Benn close behind, but maybe Burish is the leader this team needs? Maybe he should be the captain?

The only argument I’d have is that because of his style of play, as we’ve seen, will he ever play 80+ games in a season? You need your captain out there.

At the same time, if this team can’t get a spark from anyone else…that’s unfortunate.

by coolcolin09 on Mar 24, 2011 4:07 PM CDT up reply actions

You don't need to be captain in order to be an emotional leader.

Burish already proves that. Why create more drama and turmoil on a team that’s already going through so much?

by Sugaa on Mar 24, 2011 4:16 PM CDT up reply actions

Couldn't agree more!

…unless that changes his focus and keep him from being the psychological and emotional leader he’s (apparently) been.

by origprod on Mar 24, 2011 5:08 PM CDT up reply actions

Benn might be the next captain, as many have said.

But I hope that the change is natural. Not the same way that it was with Modano.
No matter, what the results in games are.

Burish should have A.

by Henri Muroke on Mar 24, 2011 4:31 PM CDT reply actions

He's not just an emotional leader Sugaa.

It’s not a coincidence that you go 36-17-7 with just a single player and 2-8-3 and without him. You have records like that because you have and lose your leader period not just emotional. He is and has been this leader ever since he got here. To me that player deserves to be the captain. I know it will never happen though. You’re right Muroke…he should have an A on his chest at least.

by JQ$ on Mar 24, 2011 4:35 PM CDT reply actions

If they went 2-8-3 during that stretch for no other reason than Adam Burish...

…then this team has bigger problems than who should have the C.

by Sugaa on Mar 24, 2011 6:05 PM CDT up reply actions

They didn't seem to care about the drama and turmoil the way they did it with Modano.

If they can’t start to turn this thing around starting Saturday then there needs to be some changes

by JQ$ on Mar 24, 2011 4:37 PM CDT reply actions

Problem with this was not the thing, it was the way they did it.

“You are not captain. If you want your A back, let us know…”

If I remember right, Morrow and Modano were cool about it. But Modano had some troubles with Armstrong, until the man was gone…
Willa speaking her thoughts didn’t help, like it didn’t last summer…

I wouldn’t mind new captain, but I’m not ready to quit on Morrow, yet.

by Henri Muroke on Mar 24, 2011 4:45 PM CDT up reply actions

Maybe a different route when he is injured

I’ve never heard of the limit of coaches or personnel that can be on the bench during the game, why not have him dress up in a suit and be an assist coach while he is injured. At least he can be there and be a motivator. Or just call him the motivator coach, start something new. That allows for players that motivate teams the most even when they get injured. I don’t see why they can’t have him do that. Who says when he is scratched from the game that he can’t be down there?

by Freelancer799 on Mar 24, 2011 4:56 PM CDT reply actions

I believe the NHL does allow for a player-coach--someone in uniform.

But I think they’re limited as to how many coaches can be behind the bench, so putting him in a suit back there could mean that one of the other coaches has to go up to the press box.

by WingnutInStarsCountry on Mar 24, 2011 5:24 PM CDT up reply actions