Brent Burns
Encyclopedia
William Brent Burns is a Canadian
professional ice hockey
defenseman currently playing for the San Jose Sharks
of the National Hockey League
(NHL).
in the first round, 20th overall, in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft
. Burns spent most of his minor hockey career playing for the Barrie Icemen and Ajax Knights of the OMHA
. He spent two years playing in the Metropolitan Toronto Hockey league (MTHL) now called the Greater Toronto Hockey League (GTHL) for the North York Canadiens, along with fellow NHL draftees Anthony Stewart and Geoff Platt
. Burns then played his OHL
career as a right wing
with the Brampton Battalion
in the 2002–03 season. He led the team in playoff scoring that season with five goals and six assists in 11 games. Burns was runner-up for Most Improved Player in the OHL as voted on by the leagues coaches.
Upon turning professional with the Wild in 2003, Burns was converted to defense by defensively minded coach Jacques Lemaire
. Burns played in 36 games with Minnesota in the 2003–04 season, showing flashes of natural ability in rushing from the blueline. After spending the 2004 NHL Lockout in the AHL
with the Houston Aeros
, Burns adapted as defenseman and earned a regular spot on the Wild team in the 2005–06 season, contributing 16 points in 72 games.
In the 2006–07 season, Burns eclipsed his previous seasons points total with 25 and became a significant force for the Wild in the later months of the season scoring back-to-back overtime winners in March and two fights during the playoffs.
On October 25, 2007, during the 2007–08 season, Burns signed a four-year contract extension with the Wild. Burns emerged as the Wild's best defenseman, establishing a career-high 15 goals and 43 points.
In the 2008–09
season, Burns was shifted between forward and defense with mild success, before he was hampered by a concussion which caused him to miss the final 19 games of the season. Burns' concussion was later a point of scrutiny when his Agent, Ron Salcer, stipulated that Wild staff had misdiagnosed his symptoms for 6-weeks with sinusitis, putting Burns at an increased health risk. Burns then had shoulder surgery upon the completion of the Wild season. He finished the injury-marred season with 27 points.
Burns suffered another concussion briefly into his 2009–10
season and started to skate again on January 14. He finished another injury-filled season with 20 points in 47 games.
On Nov 12, 2010, Burns was suspended 2 games for hitting Florida Panthers
forward Steve Bernier
. Burns hit Bernier on the chin with the knob of the stick, causing Bernier to bleed profusely.
During the 2011 NHL Entry Draft Brent Burns along with a second round pick in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft
was traded to the Sharks in exchange for Devin Setoguchi
, and Charlie Coyle
and a first round pick in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft
. With a year still left in his contract with the Wild, Burns signed a 5 year contract extension on August 1, 2011 with the San Jose Sharks - the deal would pay him $28.8M over 5 years, with an average salary cap hit of $5.76M.
as he helped Team Canada to a silver medal finish as the host country. Two years later at the 2010 World Championships
, Burns led all Canadian defencemen in ice time at 18:29 minutes a game as Canada finished in seventh place.
and Lake Elmo, Minnesota
and is a noted animal enthusiast and strong social liberal. His suburban Saint Paul
home is nicknamed "Burns Zoo", due to his collection of dogs, cats, and dozens of reptiles, mainly snakes. Burns Zoo was subject of a CBC
Hockey Night In Canada
feature with Elliotte Friedman
and on After Hours. In July 2009, Burns married his longtime girlfriend Susan Holder. The couple welcomed their first child, a 7-pound, 11-ounce girl named Peyton Gabriann on March 31, 2010; On June 23, 2011, the couple welcomed their second child, a son named Jagger Stephen Patrick. Starting in the 2009 season, Burns purchased a suite at the Xcel Energy Center
for members of the military and their families to attend Wild home games.
International play
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
professional ice hockey
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
defenseman currently playing for the San Jose Sharks
San Jose Sharks
The San Jose Sharks are a professional ice hockey team based in San Jose, California, United States. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
of the National Hockey League
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
(NHL).
Playing career
Burns was drafted by the Minnesota WildMinnesota Wild
The Minnesota Wild are a professional ice hockey team based in St. Paul, Minnesota, United States. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League ....
in the first round, 20th overall, in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft
2003 NHL Entry Draft
The 2003 NHL Entry Draft was held at the Gaylord Entertainment Center in Nashville, Tennessee on June 21, 2003.Marc-Andre Fleury was selected first overall by the Pittsburgh Penguins, only the third goalie in NHL history selected as the first overall draft choice...
. Burns spent most of his minor hockey career playing for the Barrie Icemen and Ajax Knights of the OMHA
Ontario Minor Hockey Association
The Ontario Minor Hockey Association is a major ice hockey governing body at the minor level. The OMHA is empowered by the Ontario Hockey Federation and Hockey Canada. The OMHA oversees minor hockey from Initiation to Juvenile throughout the majority of southern Ontario...
. He spent two years playing in the Metropolitan Toronto Hockey league (MTHL) now called the Greater Toronto Hockey League (GTHL) for the North York Canadiens, along with fellow NHL draftees Anthony Stewart and Geoff Platt
Geoff Platt
Geoff Platt is a Canadian ice hockey player, currently contracted to HC Dinamo Minsk of the Kontinental Hockey League.- Career :...
. Burns then played his OHL
Ontario Hockey League
The Ontario Hockey League is one of the three Major Junior ice hockey leagues which constitute the Canadian Hockey League. The league is for players aged 15-20.The OHL also operates under the Ontario Hockey Federation of Hockey Canada....
career as a right wing
Winger (ice hockey)
Winger, in the game of hockey, is a forward position of a player whose primary zone of play on the ice is along the outer playing area. They typically work by flanking the centre forward. Originally the name was given to forward players who went up and down the sides of the rink...
with the Brampton Battalion
Brampton Battalion
The Brampton Battalion are a junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Hockey League. The team is based in Brampton, Ontario and started playing in 1998.-History:The Brampton Battalion were granted an expansion franchise on December 3, 1996...
in the 2002–03 season. He led the team in playoff scoring that season with five goals and six assists in 11 games. Burns was runner-up for Most Improved Player in the OHL as voted on by the leagues coaches.
Upon turning professional with the Wild in 2003, Burns was converted to defense by defensively minded coach Jacques Lemaire
Jacques Lemaire
Jacques Gerard Lemaire is a former ice hockey forward for the Montreal Canadiens and a long-time coach, most notably with the New Jersey Devils and the Minnesota Wild.-Playing career:...
. Burns played in 36 games with Minnesota in the 2003–04 season, showing flashes of natural ability in rushing from the blueline. After spending the 2004 NHL Lockout in the AHL
American Hockey League
The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League...
with the Houston Aeros
Houston Aeros
The Houston Aeros are a professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. The team plays in Houston, Texas, at the Toyota Center. They are the AHL affiliate of the NHL's Minnesota Wild.- History :...
, Burns adapted as defenseman and earned a regular spot on the Wild team in the 2005–06 season, contributing 16 points in 72 games.
In the 2006–07 season, Burns eclipsed his previous seasons points total with 25 and became a significant force for the Wild in the later months of the season scoring back-to-back overtime winners in March and two fights during the playoffs.
On October 25, 2007, during the 2007–08 season, Burns signed a four-year contract extension with the Wild. Burns emerged as the Wild's best defenseman, establishing a career-high 15 goals and 43 points.
In the 2008–09
2008–09 NHL season
The 2008–09 NHL season was the 92nd season of operation of the National Hockey League . It was the first season since prior to the 2004–05 lockout in which every team played each other at least once during the season, following three seasons where teams only played against two divisions in the...
season, Burns was shifted between forward and defense with mild success, before he was hampered by a concussion which caused him to miss the final 19 games of the season. Burns' concussion was later a point of scrutiny when his Agent, Ron Salcer, stipulated that Wild staff had misdiagnosed his symptoms for 6-weeks with sinusitis, putting Burns at an increased health risk. Burns then had shoulder surgery upon the completion of the Wild season. He finished the injury-marred season with 27 points.
Burns suffered another concussion briefly into his 2009–10
2009–10 NHL season
The 2009–10 NHL season was the 93rd season of operation of the National Hockey League , and the 100th season since the founding of the predecessor National Hockey Association . It ran from October 1, 2009, including four games in Europe on October 2 and 3—until April 11, 2010, with the 2010...
season and started to skate again on January 14. He finished another injury-filled season with 20 points in 47 games.
On Nov 12, 2010, Burns was suspended 2 games for hitting Florida Panthers
Florida Panthers
The Florida Panthers are a professional ice hockey team based in Sunrise, Florida, in the Miami metropolitan area. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . They play their games at the BankAtlantic Center in Sunrise and are the...
forward Steve Bernier
Steve Bernier
Steve Bernier is a Canadian professional ice hockey right winger with the Albany Devils of the American Hockey League...
. Burns hit Bernier on the chin with the knob of the stick, causing Bernier to bleed profusely.
During the 2011 NHL Entry Draft Brent Burns along with a second round pick in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft
2012 NHL Entry Draft
The 2012 NHL Entry Draft will be the 50th NHL Entry Draft. The draft will be held on June 22–23, 2012 at the Consol Energy Center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It is the first time Pittsburgh will host the draft since the 1997 NHL Entry Draft....
was traded to the Sharks in exchange for Devin Setoguchi
Devin Setoguchi
Devin Charlie Kenichi Setoguchi is a Canadian professional ice hockey right winger for the Minnesota Wild of the National Hockey League . Known by the nicknames The Gooch, and Seto, Setoguchi is Half-Yonsei...
, and Charlie Coyle
Charlie Coyle
Charlie Coyle is an American ice hockey forward currently playing for the Boston University Terriers of the Hockey East as a prospect for the Minnesota Wild...
and a first round pick in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft
2011 NHL Entry Draft
The 2011 NHL Entry Draft was the 49th NHL Entry Draft. It was held on June 24–25, 2011, at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minnesota. It was the first time the Draft was held in the state of Minnesota since the Minnesota North Stars hosted the 1989 NHL Entry Draft.The top three picks consisted...
. With a year still left in his contract with the Wild, Burns signed a 5 year contract extension on August 1, 2011 with the San Jose Sharks - the deal would pay him $28.8M over 5 years, with an average salary cap hit of $5.76M.
International play
Burns was named the best defenseman at the 2008 World Championships2008 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships
The 2008 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships was the 72nd such event hosted by the International Ice Hockey Federation. Teams representing 48 countries will participate in four levels of competition. The competition will also serve as qualifications for the 2009 competition...
as he helped Team Canada to a silver medal finish as the host country. Two years later at the 2010 World Championships
2010 IIHF World Championship
The 2010 IIHF World Championship was the 74th IIHF World Championship, an annual international ice hockey tournament. It took place between 7 and 23 May 2010 in Germany. The games were played in the Lanxess Arena in Cologne, SAP Arena in Mannheim, and one game at Veltins-Arena in Gelsenkirchen...
, Burns led all Canadian defencemen in ice time at 18:29 minutes a game as Canada finished in seventh place.
Personal life
Off the ice, Burns spends his summers in Barrie, OntarioBarrie, Ontario
Barrie is a city in Southern Ontario, Canada, located on the western shore of Lake Simcoe, approximately 90 km north of Toronto. Although located in Simcoe County, the city is politically independent...
and Lake Elmo, Minnesota
Lake Elmo, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 6,863 people, 2,347 households, and 1,924 families residing in the city. The population density was 300.4 people per square mile . There were 2,389 housing units at an average density of 104.6 per square mile...
and is a noted animal enthusiast and strong social liberal. His suburban Saint Paul
Saint Paul, Minnesota
Saint Paul is the capital and second-most populous city of the U.S. state of Minnesota. The city lies mostly on the east bank of the Mississippi River in the area surrounding its point of confluence with the Minnesota River, and adjoins Minneapolis, the state's largest city...
home is nicknamed "Burns Zoo", due to his collection of dogs, cats, and dozens of reptiles, mainly snakes. Burns Zoo was subject of a CBC
CBC Television
CBC Television is a Canadian television network owned by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, the national public broadcaster.Although the CBC is supported by public funding, the television network supplements this funding with commercial advertising revenue, in contrast to CBC Radio which are...
Hockey Night In Canada
Hockey Night in Canada
Hockey Night in Canada is the branding used for CBC Sports' presentations of the National Hockey League...
feature with Elliotte Friedman
Elliotte Friedman
Elliotte Friedman is a Canadian sports journalist. He currently works on CBC Sports programmes including hosting and appearing on the Hockey Night in Canada segment The Headliner...
and on After Hours. In July 2009, Burns married his longtime girlfriend Susan Holder. The couple welcomed their first child, a 7-pound, 11-ounce girl named Peyton Gabriann on March 31, 2010; On June 23, 2011, the couple welcomed their second child, a son named Jagger Stephen Patrick. Starting in the 2009 season, Burns purchased a suite at the Xcel Energy Center
Xcel Energy Center
The Xcel Energy Center is a multi-purpose arena located in Saint Paul, Minnesota. It is named for its locally-based corporate sponsor Xcel Energy. With an official capacity of 18,064, the arena has four spectator levels: one suite level and three general seating levels. The arena is owned by the...
for members of the military and their families to attend Wild home games.
Regular season and playoffs
| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season Season (sports) In an organized sports league, a season is the portion of one year in which regulated games of the sport are in session. For example, in Major League Baseball, one season lasts approximately from April 1 through October 1; in Association football, it is generally from August until May In an... |
Team | League | GP | G Goal (ice hockey) In ice hockey, a goal is scored when the puck completely crosses the goal line between the two goal posts and below the goal crossbar. A goal awards one point to the team attacking the goal scored upon, regardless of which team the player who actually deflected the puck into the goal belongs to... |
A Assist (ice hockey) In ice hockey, an assist is attributed to up to two players of the scoring team who shot, passed or deflected the puck towards the scoring teammate, or touched it in any other way which enabled the goal, meaning that they were "assisting" in the goal. There can be a maximum of two assists per goal... |
Pts Point (ice hockey) Point in ice hockey has three official meanings:* A point is awarded to a player for each goal scored or assist earned. The total number of goals plus assists equals total points. In some European leagues, a goal counts as two points, and an assist counts as one... |
PIM Penalty (ice hockey) A penalty in ice hockey is a punishment for inappropriate behavior. Most penalties are enforced by detaining the offending player within a penalty box for a set number of minutes, during which, the player can not participate in play. The offending team usually may not replace the player on the ice,... |
GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
| 2001–02 | Couchiching Terriers Couchiching Terriers The Couchiching Terriers were a Junior A ice hockey team from Rama, Ontario, Canada from Lake Couchiching. They originated in neighbouring Orillia, Ontario. They were a part of the Ontario Junior A Hockey League. They were 1985 Centennial Cup National Champions and three time Dudley Hewitt Cup... |
OPJHL | 46 | 4 | 7 | 11 | 16 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2002–03 | Brampton Battalion Brampton Battalion The Brampton Battalion are a junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Hockey League. The team is based in Brampton, Ontario and started playing in 1998.-History:The Brampton Battalion were granted an expansion franchise on December 3, 1996... |
OHL Ontario Hockey League The Ontario Hockey League is one of the three Major Junior ice hockey leagues which constitute the Canadian Hockey League. The league is for players aged 15-20.The OHL also operates under the Ontario Hockey Federation of Hockey Canada.... |
68 | 15 | 25 | 40 | 14 | 11 | 5 | 6 | 11 | 6 | ||
| 2003–04 | Minnesota Wild Minnesota Wild The Minnesota Wild are a professional ice hockey team based in St. Paul, Minnesota, United States. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League .... |
NHL National Hockey League The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States... |
36 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 12 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2003–04 2003–04 AHL season The 2003–04 AHL season was the 68th season of the American Hockey League. The league introduces the Willie Marshall Award in honour the career points leader in the AHL, and awards it to the annual top goal scorer.... |
Houston Aeros Houston Aeros The Houston Aeros are a professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. The team plays in Houston, Texas, at the Toyota Center. They are the AHL affiliate of the NHL's Minnesota Wild.- History :... |
AHL American Hockey League The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League... |
1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2004–05 2004–05 AHL season The 2004–05 AHL season was the 69th season of the American Hockey League. Twenty-eight teams played 80 games each in the schedule. The Rochester Americans finished first overall in the regular season... |
Houston Aeros | AHL | 73 | 11 | 16 | 27 | 57 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | ||
| 2005–06 | Minnesota Wild | NHL | 72 | 4 | 12 | 16 | 32 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2006–07 | Minnesota Wild | NHL | 77 | 7 | 18 | 25 | 26 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 14 | ||
| 2007–08 | Minnesota Wild | NHL | 82 | 15 | 28 | 43 | 80 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 6 | ||
| 2008–09 2008–09 NHL season The 2008–09 NHL season was the 92nd season of operation of the National Hockey League . It was the first season since prior to the 2004–05 lockout in which every team played each other at least once during the season, following three seasons where teams only played against two divisions in the... |
Minnesota Wild | NHL | 59 | 8 | 19 | 27 | 45 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2009–10 2009–10 NHL season The 2009–10 NHL season was the 93rd season of operation of the National Hockey League , and the 100th season since the founding of the predecessor National Hockey Association . It ran from October 1, 2009, including four games in Europe on October 2 and 3—until April 11, 2010, with the 2010... |
Minnesota Wild | NHL | 47 | 3 | 17 | 20 | 32 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2010–11 2010–11 NHL season The 2010–11 NHL season was the 94th season of operation of the National Hockey League . It was the fourth consecutive season that opened in Europe with NHL Premiere . A record three events were scheduled, all in previous NHL Premiere cities: Helsinki, Finland; Stockholm, Sweden; and Prague, Czech... |
Minnesota Wild | NHL | 80 | 17 | 29 | 46 | 98 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| NHL totals | 453 | 55 | 128 | 183 | 325 | 11 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 20 | ||||
International
| Year | Team | Event | Result | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 2004 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships The 2004 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships was held between December 26, 2003 and January 5, 2004 in Helsinki and Hämeenlinna, Finland... |
Canada | WJC | 6 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 20 | |
| 2008 2008 IIHF World Championship The 2008 IIHF World Championship was played between May 2 and May 18, 2008 in the Canadian cities of Halifax and Quebec City . The two venues were the Halifax Metro Centre and the Colisée Pepsi... |
Canada | WC Ice Hockey World Championships The Ice Hockey World Championships are an annual ice hockey tournament organized by the International Ice Hockey Federation . First officially held at the 1920 Summer Olympics, it is the sport's highest profile annual international tournament. The IIHF was created in 1908 while the European... |
9 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 16 | |
| 2010 2010 IIHF World Championship The 2010 IIHF World Championship was the 74th IIHF World Championship, an annual international ice hockey tournament. It took place between 7 and 23 May 2010 in Germany. The games were played in the Lanxess Arena in Cologne, SAP Arena in Mannheim, and one game at Veltins-Arena in Gelsenkirchen... |
Canada | WC | 7th | 7 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 12 |
| 2011 | Canada | WC | 5th | 7 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 8 |
| Senior totals | 23 | 5 | 13 | 18 | 36 | |||
| Junior totals | 6 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 20 | |||
NHL All-Star Games
| Year | Location | G | A | Pts | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 58th National Hockey League All-Star Game The 58th National Hockey League All-Star Game, also known as the 2011 National Hockey League All-Star Game presented by Discover, was the National Hockey League’s annual All-Star game played on January 30, 2011. The game took place during the 2010–11 NHL season at the RBC Center in Raleigh, North... |
Raleigh | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
| All-Star totals | 0 | 1 | 1 | ||
Awards
NHL- NHL All-Star GameNational Hockey League All-Star GameThe National Hockey League All-Star Game is an exhibition ice hockey game that is traditionally held at the midway point of the regular season of the National Hockey League , with many of the league's star players playing against each other...
selection: 201158th National Hockey League All-Star GameThe 58th National Hockey League All-Star Game, also known as the 2011 National Hockey League All-Star Game presented by Discover, was the National Hockey League’s annual All-Star game played on January 30, 2011. The game took place during the 2010–11 NHL season at the RBC Center in Raleigh, North...
International play
- 2008 IIHF World Championships – Best Defenceman