I love Burrows. I wish we had the roster space to keep him around to mentor/for leadership.
We don't.
There are 13 available forward spots. You don't lose a valuable-moving-forward-kid, on waivers to hang on to Burrows for one last year for sentimental reasons.
Sedin
Sedin
Hansen
Baer
Sutter
Horvat
Virtanen
Vey
Etem
Rodin
Granlund
Dorsett
That's 12 then you have bubble guys, many of whom can't pass waivers all fighting for a spot:
McCann
Gaunce
Zalewski
Kenins
Grenier
Then there's the possibility of Boesser turning pro and earning a spot.
High likelihood of signing a UFA.
Possibility of drafting a Mathews/Laine/Pulj/Tkachuck/Dubois who could all easily push for spots.
Now you're looking at up to 20 guys, not even including Burr, fighting for 13 spots.
Honestly the ideal thing to do (so long as Burr's on board) is to waive him, have him mentor kids in Utica/be available for injuries, have him retire and offer him a coaching gig.
Preferably we call him up for the last couple home games so he can retire as a Canuck and put him in the ring of honour.