The San Jose Sharks have signed defenseman Brent Burns to an eight-year contract worth $8 million per season until the 2024 season. Burns, who was drafted by Minnesota is currently an assistant captain for San Jose. He has evolved into a large part of their defensive core. Lastly year, he had his best season up to date, scoring 27 goals and having 75 points. Currently on the first D-pair with Paul Martin, he can do it all, offensive having had 60 points or more in the last two seasons. He’s also scored 20 goals in a season twice in his career. Though Burns isn’t the best defenseman in a defensive stand-point he can be very physical and a shut-down defenseman when he needs to. Burns is on pace for another great season and most likely will be a candidate for James Norris Memorial Trophy, awarded for the best defenseman in all three sides of the ice. Last season, he was a candidate for it but lost as Drew Doughty won the award. He played for Canada in the World Cup of Hockey, who won the competition. After signing the largest contract in Sharks history, in a press conference he said he was thankful stating,
“This is a great group and we had a special year [in 2015-16] and it’s exciting to build on that,” Burns told the Sharks website. “This is a great place to come and play, and when you’re having fun it’s easier to work. I don’t even think of it as coming to work; the people here are great and they love their Sharks. We had a taste of last year (reaching the Stanley Cup Final) and now you just want to win, so it’s exciting.”
Burns is also known for his beard, one of the longest in the NHL.
NHLEVERYTHING 