Brent Burns signs with the Colorado Avalanche
Veteran player Brent Burns, recognized six times as an NHL All-Star and winner of the Norris Trophy in 2017, has signed a one-year contract with the Colorado Avalanche. Burns, 40, arrives at the Avalanche after finishing his three-season stint with the Carolina Hurricanes. In his last season in Raleigh, he scored six goals and added 29 points, averaging 20:57 minutes of ice time and participating in all 82 games as a prominent option alongside Jaccob Slavin. This is the eleventh consecutive season in which Burns has played all 82 games, accumulating the fourth-longest consecutive games streak of all time, with 925 games. Burns’ arrival to the Avalanche, winners of the Stanley Cup in 2022, gives him a new opportunity to conquer the championship that has eluded him throughout his career, in which he has scored 261 goals and accumulated 910 points in 1,497 games. The Avalanche’s management, led by Chris MacFarland, was looking to reinforce defensive depth and options in the lower part of the team at an affordable price, especially after the free agency of Erik Johnson, 37 years old. The Avalanche, who have not disclosed the financial terms of Burns’ contract, are projected to have $7.55 million in salary cap space. The incorporation of Burns provides the Avs with seven defensemen under contract, with the possibility of Burns competing for a spot on the second or third defensive pairing. The Avs already have a top-tier defensive pairing in the NHL, formed by Cale Makar and Devon Toews.This could lead to Burns, a right-handed player, pairing with Samuel Girard on the second defensive line, which would move Josh Manson to the third pairing. Alternatively, the Avs could keep Girard and Manson together, placing Burns on the third pairing alongside Sam Malinski.
