Brent Burns

Early Life and Amateur Career

Brent Burns was born and raised in Barrie, Ontario, where he began his minor hockey career within the Ontario Minor Hockey Association. He played for the Barrie Icemen and the Ajax Knights, developing his skills in the local competitive system. For two seasons, he competed in the Metropolitan Toronto Hockey League, which was later renamed the Greater Toronto Hockey League. He skated for the North York Canadiens in this league, sharing the ice with fellow future NHL draftees Anthony Stewart and Geoff Platt. His major junior career commenced with the Brampton Battalion of the Ontario Hockey League for the 2002-03 season, where he was deployed as a right winger. In his sole OHL season, Burns led the Battalion in playoff scoring with five goals and six assists for 11 points across 11 postseason games. His notable improvement that year was recognized by the league's coaches, who voted him the runner-up for the OHL's Most Improved Player award.

Professional Career with the Minnesota Wild

The Minnesota Wild selected Burns in the first round, 20th overall, at the 2003 NHL Entry Draft, initially viewing him as a right wing prospect. Upon turning professional, the defensively structured system of head coach Jacques Lemaire prompted a positional change, and Burns was converted to a defenceman. He made his NHL debut on October 8, 2003, in a game against the Chicago Blackhawks, and he scored his first NHL goal just three games later against the San Jose Sharks. He appeared in 36 games during the 2003-04 rookie season, showing flashes of his natural ability to rush the puck from the blueline. The 2004-05 NHL lockout season was spent with the Houston Aeros of the American Hockey League, where he fully adapted to the defence position. He earned a regular spot on the Wild roster for the 2005-06 season, contributing 16 points in 72 games. His offensive game expanded significantly in the 2006-07 season, where he recorded 25 points and became a clutch performer, scoring back-to-back overtime winners in March. He also engaged in two fights during the 2007 Stanley Cup playoffs, demonstrating a physical edge. On October 25, 2007, Burns signed a four-year contract extension with the Wild. He rewarded that commitment during the 2007-08 season by emerging as one of the team's top defencemen, setting career highs with 15 goals and 43 points. The 2008-09 season saw him regularly shifted between forward and defence before a concussion, which was initially misdiagnosed as sinusitis by team staff, caused him to miss the final 19 games. He finished that injury-marred season with 27 points and subsequently underwent shoulder surgery. Another concussion early in the 2009-10 season limited him to 47 games and 20 points. During the 2010-11 season, he was suspended for two games for an illegal hit on Florida Panthers forward Steve Bernier.

Trade to San Jose Sharks and Norris Trophy Season

During the 2011 NHL Entry Draft, the Minnesota Wild traded Brent Burns and a 2012 second-round draft pick to the San Jose Sharks in exchange for forward Devin Setoguchi, prospect Charlie Coyle, and a 2011 first-round pick. With one year remaining on his existing contract, Burns signed a five-year, $28.8 million extension with the Sharks on August 1, 2011, carrying an average annual value of $5.76 million. He began his Sharks tenure as a defenceman, but in March of the shortened 2012-13 season, following the acquisition of rookie Matt Irwin, the team moved Burns to forward. He excelled in the role, scoring 20 points in 23 regular season games. He started the 2013-14 season as a forward but missed 13 games after October 21 due to a painful dental issue described as sore gums. Upon his return on November 21, he scored a goal against the Tampa Bay Lightning. On November 29, 2013, Burns recorded his first career NHL hat trick in a 6-3 victory over the St. Louis Blues. In August 2014, the Sharks announced Burns would return permanently to defence. In the 2014-15 season, he scored 17 goals and 60 points, tying for second among NHL defencemen in scoring, and he won the NHL Foundation Player Award for his charitable work. The 2015-16 season was a breakout year, as Burns finished with 27 goals and 48 assists for 75 points, then added 24 points in 24 playoff games to help lead the Sharks to their first Stanley Cup Final in franchise history. On November 22, 2016, he signed an eight-year, $64 million contract extension with an average annual value of $8 million. He was also nominated for the Ted Lindsay Award as the league's most outstanding player as voted by his peers. He played in his 1,000th career NHL game on December 27, 2018, in a 4-2 win over the Anaheim Ducks.

Later Career with Carolina and Colorado

On July 13, 2022, the San Jose Sharks traded Burns and forward Lane Pederson to the Carolina Hurricanes in exchange for forward Steven Lorentz, goaltending prospect Eetu Mäkiniemi, and a 2023 third-round draft pick. His tenure in Carolina included playing his 1,300th NHL game on January 29, 2023. On July 3, 2025, as a free agent, Burns signed a one-year contract with the Colorado Avalanche. The 2025-26 season with Colorado was marked by several major milestones. On October 11, 2025, he played his 1,500th NHL game, becoming the 23rd player in league history to reach that mark. On January 31, 2026, in a game against the Detroit Red Wings, Burns scored the 270th goal of his career, tying the legendary Bobby Orr for eighth place on the all-time goals list for NHL defencemen. His iron man streak continued to build, and on March 14, 2026, he played in his 990th consecutive regular season game, moving into sole possession of second place on the all-time list behind Phil Kessel. He finally reached the 1,000 consecutive games milestone on April 4, 2026, in a 2-0 Avalanche victory over the Dallas Stars, securing his place as the second player ever to achieve that feat. Following the season, on June 26, 2026, Burns signed a one-year contract extension with the Colorado Avalanche to return for his 23rd NHL season.

International Play

Burns has represented Canada on multiple occasions at the IIHF World Championship. His first major international success came at the 2008 tournament, hosted in Quebec City and Halifax. Burns was named the Best Defenceman of the tournament, a significant individual honour, as he helped Canada secure a silver medal on home ice. He returned to the Canadian team for the 2010 World Championship in Germany, where he led all Canadian defencemen in average ice time at 18 minutes and 29 seconds per game, though the team finished in a disappointing seventh place. Burns was part of Canada's extensive summer camp roster in preparation for the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver but was not selected for the final roster that went on to win gold. His most decorated international performance came at the 2015 World Championship in the Czech Republic. Burns was once again named the tournament's Best Defenceman and was selected to the Media All-Star Team. He was a key contributor as Canada went undefeated through the tournament to capture the gold medal, the nation's first world championship title since 2007.

Personal Life and Off-Ice Interests

Burns married Susan Holder in July 2009, and the couple has three children together. He maintains residences in his hometown of Barrie, Ontario, and in Lake Elmo, Minnesota, but is globally recognized for his deep passion for exotic animals. His primary home in suburban Saint Paul, Minnesota, is famously nicknamed 'Burns Zoo' due to his extensive collection of domestic and exotic pets. The collection includes multiple dogs, cats, and dozens of reptiles, with a particular focus on various snake species. This unique lifestyle was profiled in a segment on CBC's Hockey Night in Canada with reporter Elliotte Friedman. Beyond his home menagerie, Burns owns and operates a large ranch in Texas dedicated to raising exotic animals such as wildebeest and fallow deer. His teammates with the San Jose Sharks famously purchased two antelopes as a gift to commemorate his 1,000th NHL game, adding to his ranch's population. Burns has also been consistently involved in community and charitable initiatives. Starting with the 2009-10 NHL season, he purchased a private suite at the Xcel Energy Center in Saint Paul to host active military members and their families at Minnesota Wild home games throughout each season.

Playing Style and Career Significance

Burns is recognized for a unique and highly effective playing style that combines exceptional size with rare skill and mobility for a defenceman. Standing 6 feet 5 inches tall and weighing 228 pounds, he possesses very quick skating ability and incredible hand skills for a player of his frame. Originally drafted as a forward, his conversion to defence allowed his innate offensive instincts to flourish from the blueline, making him a constant threat on the rush and a quarterback on the power play. His versatility was further demonstrated by several seasons where he was deployed as a forward with notable success, including a 20-point stretch in 23 games during the 2012-13 season. Beyond his on-ice production, which includes a Norris Trophy, over 270 career goals, and a trip to the Stanley Cup Final, Burns's career is defined by his extraordinary durability. His iron man streak of over 1,000 consecutive regular season games is a monumental achievement of consistency and resilience, placing him in a category with only one other player in the league's long history. Furthermore, following the retirement of goaltender Marc-André Fleury, Burns is the last active player in the NHL to have made his debut before the 2004-05 league-wide lockout, having first played in the 2003-04 season. This fact highlights his longevity and his role as a connective figure between different eras of professional hockey.

Questions about Brent Burns

Why is Brent Burns famous for his animals?

Brent Burns is a well-known animal enthusiast whose suburban Minnesota home is nicknamed 'Burns Zoo' due to his extensive collection of pets, including many dogs, cats, and dozens of reptiles, mainly snakes. He also owns a ranch in Texas where he raises exotic animals like wildebeest and fallow deer. His teammates famously gifted him two antelopes for his 1,000th career game. His passion for animals has been featured in media segments on Hockey Night in Canada.

What team does Brent Burns play for now?

Brent Burns currently plays for the Colorado Avalanche. He signed a one year contract with the Avalanche on July 3, 2025. Following the 2025 26 season, he signed a one year extension on June 26, 2026, to return for his 23rd NHL season. He plays as a defenceman for the team. Prior to joining Colorado, he was traded to and played for the Carolina Hurricanes from 2022 to 2025.

How many consecutive games has Brent Burns played?

Brent Burns has played 1,000 consecutive regular season games. He achieved this iron man milestone on April 4, 2026, while playing for the Colorado Avalanche. This streak made him the second player in NHL history to reach 1,000 consecutive games, after Phil Kessel. The streak was active during the 2025 26 season when he was with Colorado. His consistent presence on the ice is a mark of his durable career.

Did Brent Burns ever win the Norris Trophy?

Yes, Brent Burns won the James Norris Memorial Trophy once. He won the award as the NHL's best defenceman at the end of the 2016 17 season while playing for the San Jose Sharks. The season prior, in 2015 16, he finished third in the voting for the same trophy. Winning the Norris Trophy is considered the top individual honour for a defenceman in the National Hockey League.

How many goals does Brent Burns have?

Brent Burns has scored 270 career NHL goals. He scored his 270th goal on January 31, 2026, while playing for the Colorado Avalanche against the Detroit Red Wings. This goal total tied him with Hockey Hall of Famer Bobby Orr for eighth place on the all time list for goals by a defenceman. This milestone highlights his significant offensive production from the blueline over his long career.

Where did Brent Burns play junior hockey?

Brent Burns played his Ontario Hockey League junior hockey for the Brampton Battalion in the 2002 03 season. He played as a right winger and led the team in playoff scoring that year with five goals and six assists in 11 games. Before the OHL, he played minor hockey for the North York Canadiens in the Metropolitan Toronto Hockey League. He also played for the Barrie Icemen and Ajax Knights in the Ontario Minor Hockey Association.

Sources: Wikipedia and current public reporting, checked by the Garbutt Disposal desk. Last updated 2026-10-22.