Brent Burns, Avalanche agree to terms on one-year deal

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The Colorado Avalanche announced Wednesday they have agreed to terms with veteran defenseman Brent Burns on a one-year deal. Terms were not disclosed.

Burns, 40, played in 246 regular-season contests and 41 playoff games over the last three seasons with the Carolina Hurricanes. This past season, he produced six goals and 23 assists for Carolina — his lowest totals since the shortened 2020-21 season — but still averaged a lofty 20:57 of ice time per game. He added five points (one goal, four assists) over 15 Stanley Cup Playoff games.

An ironman, Burns held the longest streak of consecutive games among active players, skating in 925 consecutive games before missing a game vs. the Senators on April 17.

Known for his size (6-foot-5, 228 pounds) and tenacity, the right-shot blue-liner has 261 goals and 649 assists (910 points) over 1,497 games — the eighth-most all-time by a defenseman — with 24 goals and 56 assists in 135 playoff games while playing for the Hurricanes, San Jose Sharks and Minnesota Wild from 2003-25.

Burns took home the 2016-17 Norris Trophy (awarded to the top defenseman) after collecting 76 points and averaging 24:52 of ice time per game. He paced all defensemen in goals and points while leading all skaters with 320 shots on goal. The defenseman also finished fourth in the Hart Memorial Trophy (league MVP) voting and was a finalist for the Ted Lindsay Award (most outstanding player as voted on by the NHLPA) that season.

Burns was also a finalist for the Norris Trophy in 2015-16 and 2018-19. Additional accolades include twice being named to the NHL Postseason First All-Star Team (2016-17 and 2018-19), Second All-Star Team nods in 2015-16, six All-Star Games and the 2014-15 NHL Foundation Player Award winner for outstanding charitable work in the community.

–Field Level Media