Alexander Burmistrov
A skilled, two-way center whose nomadic career took him from NHL promise to KBL championship glory in his native Russia.
Born 1991 (age 35)·Russian ice hockey player·Birthday: October 21·Millennials
Biography
Alexander Burmistrov entered the hockey world as a first-round draft pick, carrying the sleek skill and competitive fire typical of Russian playmakers. His journey with the Atlanta Thrashers, however, quickly became a story of adaptation. He showed flashes of creative brilliance but often seemed at odds with the North American style, a talented piece searching for the right system. A return to his homeland with the KHL's Ak Bars Kazan proved transformative. There, his responsible two-way game and offensive instincts found a perfect harmony, culminating in a Gagarin Cup championship in 2018. His subsequent NHL returns with Winnipeg, Arizona, and Vancouver were brief, underscoring a career defined by movement. Burmistrov's path reflects the modern global hockey landscape—a player of clear talent whose greatest success came not in the league of his draft day, but on home ice, where his complete game could finally shine.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Alexander was born in 1991, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Alexander Was Born
The biggest hits of 1991
#1 Movie
Terminator 2: Judgment Day
Best Picture
The Silence of the Lambs
#1 TV Show
Cheers
Alexander's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1991Born
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
1996Started school
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
2004Became a teenager
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2007Could drive
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2009Could vote
Michael Jackson dies; Bitcoin created
Gas: $2.35/galHome: $148,500Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Boom Boom Pow" — The Black Eyed PeasBest Picture: The Hurt Locker
2012Turned 21
Curiosity rover lands on Mars; Sandy Hook shooting
Gas: $3.64/galHome: $143,200Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Somebody That I Used to Know" — GotyeBest Picture: Argo
2021Turned 30
January 6 Capitol breach; COVID vaccines roll out globally
Gas: $3.01/galHome: $298,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Levitating" — Dua LipaBest Picture: CODA
2026Age 35 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the Gagarin Cup, the KHL championship, with Ak Bars Kazan in 2018.
- Selected 8th overall by the Atlanta Thrashers in the first round of the 2010 NHL Entry Draft.
- Represented Russia at multiple World Junior Championships, winning a silver medal in 2010.
- Played over 350 games in the NHL across four different franchises.
Did You Know?
He is known for wearing jersey number 13, an uncommon choice in hockey.
He left the NHL for the KHL for the first time in 2013, citing a desire for a larger role and being closer to family.
His father, Oleg Burmistrov, was also a professional hockey player in Russia.
He played for the Shanghai Dragons in the KHL during the 2023-24 season.
“I came to play my game, not the game others expected of me.”
