Brent Burns

Brent Burns
Burns with the San Jose Sharks in April 2016
Born	(1985-03-09) March 9, 1985 (age 39) Barrie, Ontario, Canada
Height	6 ft 5 in (196 cm)
Weight	230 lb (104 kg; 16 st 6 lb)
Position	Defence / Right wing
Shoots	Right
NHL team Former teams	Carolina Hurricanes Minnesota Wild San Jose Sharks
National team	Canada
NHL draft	20th overall, 2003 Minnesota Wild
Playing career	2003–present

Brent Burns (born March 9, 1985) is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman for the Carolina Hurricanes of the National Hockey League (NHL). Drafted as a right wing (20th overall) at the 2003 NHL Entry Draft by the Minnesota Wild, he was converted into a defenceman upon turning professional. Burns is known as a dynamic offensive player, and though he mostly plays defence, he has been utilized as a forward on several occasions during his career.

During the shortened 2012–13 season and continuing through the 2013–14 season, the Sharks used Burns as a forward. Starting with the 2014–15 season, he was returned to defence. At the end of the 2015–16 season, Burns finished third in voting for the James Norris Memorial Trophy (awarded to the NHL's best defenceman); ^[1] one year later, at the end of the 2016–17 season, Burns won the award for the first time in his career. ^[2]

Playing career

Amateur

Burns was drafted by the Minnesota Wild in the first round, 20th overall, in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft. He spent most of his minor hockey career playing for the Barrie Icemen and Ajax Knights of the Ontario Minor Hockey Association (OMHA). He spent two years playing in the Metropolitan Toronto Hockey league (MTHL), now called the Greater Toronto Hockey League (GTHL), for the North York Canadiens, along with fellow NHL draftees Anthony Stewart and Geoff Platt. Burns then played his Ontario Hockey League (OHL) career as a right winger with the Brampton Battalion in the 2002–03 season. He led the team in playoff scoring that season with five goals and six assists in 11 games. Burns was runner-up for Most Improved Player in the OHL as voted on by Leagues coaches. ^[3]

Professional

Minnesota Wild (2003–2011)

Upon turning professional with the Wild in 2003, Burns was converted to defence by defensively-minded Minnesota Head Coach Jacques Lemaire. He made his NHL debut with the Wild on October 8, 2003, against the Chicago Blackhawks, and scored his first NHL goal in his third game, against the Sharks. ^[4] Burns played in 36 games with Minnesota in the 2003–04 season, showing flashes of natural ability in rushing from the blueline. ^[5]

After spending the 2004–05 NHL lock-out in the American Hockey League (AHL) with the Houston Aeros, Burns adapted as a defenceman and earned a regular spot on the Wild roster for the 2005–06 season, contributing 16 points in 72 games.

Burns with the Wild in January 2011

In the 2006–07 season, Burns eclipsed his previous season's points total with 25 and became a significant force for the Wild in the latter months of the season, scoring back-to-back overtime winners in March and engaging in two fights during the 2007 Stanley Cup playoffs. ^[6]

On October 25, 2007, during the 2007–08 season, Burns signed a four-year contract extension with the Wild. ^[7] He emerged as one of the Wild's top defencemen, scoring a career-high 15 goals and 43 points.

In the 2008–09 season, Burns was regularly shifted between forward and defence with mild success before he was eventually hampered by a concussion that caused him to miss the final 19 games of the regular season. ^[8] Burns's concussion was later a point of scrutiny when his agent, Ron Salcer, stipulated that Wild staff had misdiagnosed his symptoms for six weeks with sinusitis, putting Burns at an increased health risk. ^[9] Burns then had shoulder surgery upon the completion of the Wild season. ^[10] He finished the injury-marred season with 27 points.

Burns with the Sharks in December 2011, during his first season with the team

Burns suffered another concussion briefly into his 2009–10 season, beginning to skate again only on January 14. ^[11] He finished another injury-filled season with 20 points in 47 games. On November 12, 2010, Burns was suspended for two games for hitting Florida Panthers forward Steve Bernier. Burns hit Bernier on the chin with the knob of the stick, causing Bernier to bleed profusely.

San Jose Sharks (2011–2022)

During the 2011 NHL Entry Draft, Burns, along with a second-round draft pick in 2012, was traded to the San Jose Sharks in exchange for Devin Setoguchi, Charlie Coyle and a first-round pick in 2011. ^[12] With a year still left in his contract with the Wild, Burns signed a five-year contract extension on August 1, 2011, with the Sharks; the deal would pay him $28.8 million over five years, with an average salary cap figure of $5.76 million. ^[13]

In 2013, after rookie defenceman Matt Irwin's acquisition by the Sharks, in March, Burns was moved to forward, where he scored 20 points in 23 regular season games. ^[14]

In the 2013–14 season, Burns played the first eight games of the season, but missed 13 games after October 21 due to sore gums. ^{[15] [16]} On November 21, Burns returned to the Sharks' line-up and scored a goal against the Tampa Bay Lightning in a 5–1 winning effort. On November 29, against the St. Louis Blues, Burns recorded his first career hat-trick in a 6–3 victory. ^[17]

In August 2014, the Sharks announced that Burns would move back to defence ^[18] where he scored 17 goals and finished tied for second among NHL defencemen with 60 points. Burns also won the NHL Foundation Player Award for outstanding charitable and community work. ^[19]

He had a breakout season in 2015–16, finishing with 75 points (27 goals, 48 assists), then had 24 points (seven goals, 17 assists) in 24 Stanley Cup Playoff games to help the Sharks reach the Final for the first time since entering the NHL in 1991. ^[4]

On November 22, 2016, Burns signed an eight-year $64 million contract extension with the Sharks through 2024–25, with an average annual value of $8 million per year. ^[20]

Burns with the Hurricanes in October 2022

In 2017, Burns won the James Norris Memorial Trophy as the league's best defenceman. He was also nominated for the Ted Lindsay Award, awarded annually to the league's best player as voted by the National Hockey League Players Association.

He played in his 1,000th career game on December 27, 2018, in a 4–2 win over the Anaheim Ducks. ^[21]

Carolina Hurricanes (2022–present)

On July 13, 2022, the Sharks traded Burns and Lane Pederson to the Carolina Hurricanes in exchange for forward Steven Lorentz, goaltending prospect Eetu Mäkiniemi, and a third-round selection in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft. ^[22] On January 29, 2023, Burns played his 1,300th NHL game. ^[23]

International play

Medal record
Ice hockey
Representing  Canada
World Championships
	2015 Czech Republic
	2008 Quebec City
Canada Cup / World Cup
	2016 Toronto
World Junior Championships
	2004 Helsinki

Burns was named the best defenceman at the 2008 World Championships as he helped Canada to a silver medal finish as the host country. ^[5] Two years later, at the 2010 World Championships, Burns led all Canadian defencemen in ice time at 18:29 minutes per game as Canada finished in seventh place. ^[24] He was also part of the summer camp roster for Canada in the 2010 Winter Olympics, though he did not make the final roster cut. At the 2015 World Championships Burns was again named the best defenceman, and a member of the all-star team, as part of Canada's gold medal-winning team. ^[25]

Personal life

Burns and his wife, Susan Holder, married in July 2009 and have three children. ^[26]

Off the ice, Burns spends his summers in Barrie, Ontario, and Lake Elmo, Minnesota, and is a noted animal enthusiast. His suburban Saint Paul home is nicknamed "Burns Zoo" due to his collection of dogs, cats and dozens of reptiles, mainly snakes. ^[27] Burns Zoo was subject of a CBC Hockey Night in Canada feature with Elliotte Friedman and on After Hours.

Burns in 2014

Starting in the 2009 season, Burns purchased a suite at the Xcel Energy Center for members of the military and their families to attend Minnesota Wild home games. ^[28]

Burns also owns and operates a ranch in Texas where he raises and maintains many species of exotic animals, including wildebeest, fallow deer, and more. ^[29] For his 1000th game, his fellow San Jose Sharks teammates bought him two antelopes to add to his animal collection. ^[30]

Burns made his acting debut with a 2-episodes role in season 6 of Vikings as an ambitious raider named Skane. ^[31]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2001–02	Couchiching Terriers	OPJHL		46	4	7	11	16		—	—	—	—	—
2002–03	Brampton Battalion	OHL		68	15	25	40	14		11	5	6	11	6
2003–04	Minnesota Wild	NHL		36	1	5	6	12		—	—	—	—	—
2003–04	Houston Aeros	AHL		1	0	1	1	2		—	—	—	—	—
2004–05	Houston Aeros	AHL		73	11	16	27	57		5	0	0	0	4
2005–06	Minnesota Wild	NHL		72	4	12	16	32		—	—	—	—	—
2006–07	Minnesota Wild	NHL		77	7	18	25	26		5	0	1	1	14
2007–08	Minnesota Wild	NHL		82	15	28	43	80		6	0	2	2	6
2008–09	Minnesota Wild	NHL		59	8	19	27	45		—	—	—	—	—
2009–10	Minnesota Wild	NHL		47	3	17	20	32		—	—	—	—	—
2010–11	Minnesota Wild	NHL		80	17	29	46	98		—	—	—	—	—
2011–12	San Jose Sharks	NHL		81	11	26	37	34		5	1	1	2	4
2012–13	San Jose Sharks	NHL		30	9	11	20	20		11	2	2	4	8
2013–14	San Jose Sharks	NHL		69	22	26	48	34		7	2	1	3	23
2014–15	San Jose Sharks	NHL		82	17	43	60	65		—	—	—	—	—
2015–16	San Jose Sharks	NHL		82	27	48	75	53		24	7	17	24	12
2016–17	San Jose Sharks	NHL		82	29	47	76	40		6	0	3	3	6
2017–18	San Jose Sharks	NHL		82	12	55	67	46		10	3	4	7	6
2018–19	San Jose Sharks	NHL		82	16	67	83	34		20	5	11	16	6
2019–20	San Jose Sharks	NHL		70	12	33	45	34		—	—	—	—	—
2020–21	San Jose Sharks	NHL		56	7	22	29	36		—	—	—	—	—
2021–22	San Jose Sharks	NHL		82	10	44	54	42		—	—	—	—	—
2022–23	Carolina Hurricanes	NHL		82	18	43	61	44		15	2	7	9	20
2023–24	Carolina Hurricanes	NHL		82	10	33	43	20
NHL totals				1,415	255	626	881	827		109	22	49	71	105

International

Year	Team	Event	Result		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2004	Canada	WJC			6	0	6	6	20
2008	Canada	WC			9	3	6	9	16
2010	Canada	WC	7th		7	0	5	5	12
2011	Canada	WC	5th		7	2	2	4	8
2015	Canada	WC			10	2	9	11	2
2016	Canada	WCH			6	0	3	3	6
Junior totals					6	0	6	6	20
Senior totals					39	7	25	32	44

Awards and honours

Award	Year
NHL
Foundation Player Award	2015
First All Star Team	2017, 2019
Second All Star Team	2016
James Norris Memorial Trophy	2017
NHL All-Star	2011, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019
International
WC Best Defenceman	2008, 2015
WC All-Star team	2015

References

1. "2015–16 NHL Awards Voting". Hockey-Reference.com. Retrieved September 2, 2016.
2. "Sharks' defenseman makes history at NHL Awards show". San Jose Mercury News . June 21, 2017. Retrieved June 21, 2017.
3. "Minnesota Wild Make Forward Brent Burns Available to Canada's National Junior Team". hockeycanada.ca. December 10, 2003. Retrieved October 31, 2009.
4. "Brent Burns Stats and News". National Hockey League. Retrieved November 14, 2018.
5. "Dont forget about the Wilds' Burns". thehockeynews.com. April 7, 2009. Archived from the original on April 11, 2009. Retrieved June 23, 2009.
6. "Brent Burns, Wild thing". Star Tribune. September 15, 2007. Retrieved June 23, 2009.
7. "Wild signs Brent Burns to four-year extension". National Hockey League. October 25, 2007. Archived from the original on October 27, 2007. Retrieved June 23, 2009.
8. "Concussion keeps frustrated Burns off ice". Star Tribune. April 9, 2009. Retrieved June 23, 2009.^{[ permanent dead link ]}
9. "Agent: Playing Burns was health risk". Star Tribune. April 17, 2009. Archived from the original on April 21, 2009. Retrieved June 23, 2009.
10. "Wild's Brent Burns hospitalized overnight after surgery". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. April 23, 2009. Retrieved June 23, 2009.
11. "Sports News, Opinion, Scores, Schedules | TSN".
12. "Sharks Acquire Brent Burns from Wild". sharks.nhl.com.
13. "Sharks sign defenceman Burns to five-year extension". TSN. August 1, 2011. Archived from the original on December 3, 2013. Retrieved August 1, 2011.
14. Dubow, Josh (May 11, 2013). "Sharks rely on rookie D Matt Irwin". Yahoo! Sports. Archived from the original on June 10, 2013. Retrieved May 14, 2013.
15. Stubits, Brian (October 21, 2013). "Brent Burns to miss Monday game in Detroit with sore gums". CBS Sports . Retrieved November 19, 2013.
16. Pashelka, Curtis (November 19, 2013). "Sharks' Brent Burns could return this week". San Jose Mercury News . Retrieved November 19, 2013.
17. McKeon, Ross (November 29, 2013). "Sharks 6, Blues 3". Yahoo! Sports . Retrieved November 29, 2013.
18. Gilmore, Eric (August 29, 2014). "Sharks hope Burns' return to defense goes smoothly". National Hockey League. Retrieved May 16, 2016.
19. Relations, NHL (June 24, 2015). "Sharks' Burns receives NHL Foundation Player Award". National Hockey League. Retrieved November 24, 2018.
20. "Brent Burns signs 8-year contract with Sharks". National Hockey League. November 22, 2016. Retrieved April 17, 2018.
21. "Sharks Defenseman Brent Burns Plays in His 1,000th Career NHL Game". National Hockey League. December 27, 2018. Retrieved December 27, 2018.
22. "Burns traded to Hurrianes by Sharks". National Hockey League. July 13, 2022. Retrieved July 13, 2022.
23. Dusterberg, Kurt (January 29, 2023). "Hurricanes ease past Bruins, extend winning streak to 5". NHL.com. Retrieved January 30, 2023.
24. "CAN – Canada" (PDF). IIHF . Archived (PDF) from the original on June 10, 2012. Retrieved May 22, 2010.
25. "Burns Named Best Defenseman at IIHF Worlds". San Jose Sharks News. San Jose Sharks. May 18, 2015. Retrieved May 18, 2015.
26. "Brent Burns' wife Susan Holder was his longtime Girlfriend". PlayersGF.com – Girlfriend, Wife, Wags & Boyfriend Photo. Retrieved November 14, 2018.
27. "Wildlife increasingly part of life at 'Burns Zoo'". Star Tribune. April 9, 2008. Archived from the original on April 29, 2010. Retrieved June 23, 2009.
28. "Burns ready to return to his old form". Star Tribune. September 14, 2009. Archived from the original on September 23, 2009. Retrieved November 7, 2009.
29. "Of course Brent Burns bought a ranch in Texas this summer". Bardown. September 4, 2018. Retrieved September 19, 2018.
30. "Pair of antelope among Brent Burns' epic 1000th game gift haul". Canada News Media.
31. "Born for the part? Brent Burns describes his cameo appearance in "Vikings"". January 2021.

External links

• Media related to Brent Burns at Wikimedia Commons
• Biographical information and career statistics from NHL.com , or  Eliteprospects.com , or  Eurohockey.com , or  Hockey-Reference.com , or  The Internet Hockey Database
• Brent Burns at IMDb

Awards and achievements
Preceded by Pierre-Marc Bouchard	Minnesota Wild first round draft pick 2003	Succeeded by A. J. Thelen
Preceded by Drew Doughty	James Norris Memorial Trophy winner 2017	Succeeded by Victor Hedman