Brent Burns has spent more than two decades piling up the kind of résumé most NHL players can only dream about. He’s got the Norris Trophy, six All-Star nods and a reputation as one of the most dangerous offensive defensemen of his era. But at 41, with his 23rd NHL season underway, Burns is still chasing two things that keep this run from feeling complete: a Stanley Cup and history.
The history part is pretty wild. Burns came into Tuesday’s game against the Dallas Stars riding a streak of 1,012 straight regular-season appearances, the second-longest run in NHL history. Only Phil Kessel has gone longer, with 1,064 in a row.
That streak started back in November 2013, when Burns was with the San Jose Sharks, and it has survived the bruising reality of playing defense night after night. He’s managed to stay in the lineup through all of it, and he’s done it while still producing at a high level.
In the 2025-26 season, Burns put up 12 goals and 23 assists for 35 points in 82 games with the Avalanche. He also posted a career-best plus-33 rating and averaged nearly 19 minutes of ice time per game. Those numbers make one thing clear: he’s not just hanging around as a veteran name at the end of the bench.
Colorado noticed. In June, the Avalanche signed Burns to a one-year contract extension, keeping him in the mix for another run at the Cup and another shot at Kessel’s streak.
Burns’ path to this point has been a long one. The Minnesota Wild made him the 20th overall pick in the 2003 NHL Draft, and he spent seven seasons there before moving on to San Jose in 2011. That’s where he turned into one of the league’s most productive defensemen, a player who could drive offense from the blue line and punish teams with his shot and puck movement.
His best season in that stretch came in 2016-17, when he scored 29 goals and added 47 assists for 76 points on his way to the Norris Trophy. He also helped push the Sharks to the Stanley Cup Final in 2016, though they fell to the Pittsburgh Penguins in six games.
And that’s the part that still hangs over his career. Burns has done almost everything, but the Stanley Cup has stayed out of reach. That’s what eventually brought him to Colorado in 2025, where his experience and physical presence give the Avalanche another layer of depth on defense, especially once the postseason arrives.
The tricky part now is balancing everything. To keep the games-played streak alive, Burns has to stay in the lineup every night during the regular season. At the same time, the Avalanche have to think about keeping him fresh for the playoffs.
That tension only grows as the season moves along. Still, Burns has already shown he can stay healthy and productive far longer than most players in his position.
Catching Kessel is one goal. Raising the Stanley Cup would be the one that really matters.
And with Colorado in the mix, Burns has another chance to make that happen.
In Other News...
Cale Makar Shares Personal Update After Brief Avalanche Absence
Cale Makar is back with the Avalanche after stepping away for a game to be with his family for the birth of his twin sons, Mattie and Rhett. The star defenseman returned to the lineup and looked right at home in his usual role, logging 28 shifts and nearly 23 minutes of ice time as Colorado got back to business with one of its most important players available again.
Makar said his family is healthy, a welcome update after a brief absence that had little to do with hockey but plenty to do with life. For Avalanche fans, it was another reminder that the cornerstone piece of the roster is as settled off the ice as he is on it, especially after signing his eight-year deal last offseason and making clear he wants to spend his career in Colorado. [Read more 🡒]
Hakstols Sudden Avalanche Exit Raises An Obvious Timing Question
Dave Hakstols sudden departure from the Avalanche staff came soon after Jared Bednar signed a four-year contract extension, giving the move a natural layer of intrigue even before the explanation surfaced. Hakstol has already moved on to take the head coaching job at Arizona State, stepping into a program that is dealing with its own significant challenges after a recent player health incident.
For Colorado, the timing is what stands out most because it invites questions about how much of this was about opportunity and how much was about the way the coaching picture had just shifted in Denver. There has been speculation about the reasons behind Hakstols exit, but nothing has been confirmed, leaving the Avalanche with a notable change on the bench and one obvious thread still hanging. [Read more 🡒]
Avalanche Bring Back A Familiar Face For Bednars Staff
The Avalanche have added a familiar name behind the bench, hiring Brett McLean as an assistant coach to fill the vacancy created when Dave Hakstol left for the head coaching job at Arizona State University. McLean, who once played for Colorado, brings a blend of franchise familiarity and coaching experience to Jared Bednars staff as the team continues shaping its support structure for the seasons ahead.
Joe Sakic praised McLeans character and work ethic, while McLean said he was excited to be back with the organization. For a team that values continuity and trust in its coaching room, the move fits neatly with Colorados approach, even as it quietly signals another shift in the makeup of Bednars bench. [Read more 🡒]