The Colorado Avalanche have added to their defensive depth on Wednesday, signing defenseman Brent Burns to a one-year contract. If that was on your bingo card, I think you automatically get to shout “BINGO” even if it was the only spot you filled out on your sheet.
Burns is 40 years old and this likely is his last year in the league, so it really is telling that he decided to sign with the Avalanche instead of someone like the Florida Panthers. Burns has never won a Stanley Cup, and doing so would be the icing on the cake for him and to go out a Stanley Cup Champion.
Burns isn’t going to play a whole lot, as the first line on the Avalanche is unmovable with Cale Makar and Devon Toews. Sam Girard and Josh Manson are the second pairing defensemen. Could we end up seeing Girard moved out, which has been a talking point over the last couple of years?
If that was the move, I’m not a huge fan of it, given that it’s likely Burns’ last year in the league. Moving a guy such as Manson makes more sense, though at 33 years old, he won’t be a player that could force another team to surrender a whole lot.
Burns has played in every single game over the past four years, and overall, has played in every game in a season 10 times. That’s the definition of an NHL Ironman. With his durability and history in the league, it’s easy to see the signing being a positive move for the Avalanche.
With Burns now in Colorado, it makes me feel confident that he is sure that the team is close to winning it all (again). It’s been a disappointing past couple of seasons since winning the Stanley Cup, but here’s hoping that the addition of Burns (among other transactions) can lead them to where they want to go.
Burns also has 135 games of playoff experience. In those games, he has 24 goals and 56 assists, while he has scored eight power play goals.
It will be interesting to see where exactly he is placed in the lineup, and who ends up being moved (if that’s the case). Burns’ contract gives him $1 million in base salary with $3 million of possible bonuses due to games played.