While the expectations for new Colorado Avalanche defender Brent Burns are at a minimum in 2025-26, Burns is going to create history for the franchise one way or another. We hope that Burns does well in his limited role, and we now know something that some fans will be interested in.
Burns will wear the number 84 in his first (and possibly only) year with the Avalanche. Some will wonder why that matters. The reason is that there has been a grand total of zero players who have donned that jersey number in franchise history. On the other side of history is the number 99, which was worn by The Great One, Wayne Gretzky. That number is retired across the entire NHL, never to be worn again.
Burns ranks 21st all-time in games played in a career with 1,497. In fact, he leads all active players in that category—even Alexander Overchkin (1,491). He would climb up to 12th place all-time if he somehow plays in all 82 games this upcoming season (not likely, as his role is expected to be limited). However, he has played in every single regular season game over the past four years, as well as 10 entire seasons of 82 games played, so you never know.
The bar isn’t necessarily set high for Burns, who will likely play on the Avalanche’s third defensive pairing. Perhaps he can somehow carve out a bigger role than most expect, and become a solid goal scorer like he has in the past. He has played at the forward position, after all. I just wouldn’t be quick to rule out a very solid year for the 40 year old Burns.
It could be that Burns would play so well at his third-pairing role that he earns a spot one pairing higher, replacing Josh Manson, who it seems not everybody is that high on. Maybe head coach Jared Bednar tries him out along with Sam Girard.
I am just hoping for the best outcome for Burns in an Avalanche sweater. He’ll create some sort of history with the Avalanche regardless of how many games he plays, and he’ll do it with a jersey numbers never worn by a member of the Colorado Avalanche.