Jets' Burmistrov feels he's being left in the dark by coaching staff

Alex Burmistrov is fading into irrelevancy in Winnipeg.

The former lottery selection of the franchise, stuck on just two assists for the season, has made four appearances for the Jets in the last four weeks. He voiced his frustration about both his usage and the instruction, or lack thereof, that he's received from the coaching staff.

"You know, I feel great, working hard - watching games," Burmistrov told Jason Bell of the Winnipeg Free Press. "It's tough, tough for me because I do not know why I'm not playing, you know. I never have a conversation with the coach, so he never tell me why I'm not playing."

Jets coach Paul Maurice denied that communication lines have been cut off, suggesting that there's dialogue every day.

"We both have a pretty clear understanding of where he's at," he said.

Winnipeg has won its last two games without Burmistrov in the lineup, so he doesn't expect to draw in for the club's back-to-back road appearances versus the Vancouver Canucks before the holiday break.