Avalanche Free Agency
Veteran Defenseman Brent Burns Agrees To One-Year Deal with Avalanche
The Avalanche agreed to terms with defenseman Brent Burns on a one-year deal, the team announced on Wednesday. Burns will make $1 million in a base salary and can earn up to $3 million more in games-played performance bonuses.
Burns, 40, appeared in all 82 games last year with the Carolina Hurricanes, compiling six goals and adding 23 assists.
The NHL’s active Iron Man, Burns has played in 925 games, having not missed a game whether with San Jose or Carolina since 2013. Last year he averaged 20:57 per game, the lowest in his career since 2015.
As a righty, Burns adds depth to a right side that includes Cale Makar, Josh Manson, and Sam Malinski. The native of of Barrie, Ontario, Canada is the last remaining active skater that played in the NHL before the 2004-05 lockout.
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Didn’t have this one on my bingo card. Very curious. I suppose this does mean EJ will not be brought back, even if he doesn’t retire.
Lame. He’s a shitty person and a waste of cap space.
Why do you say that?
You must be a Timo Meier fan…
So, they have to be moving Manson out, right? I can’t imagine Burns signing up to be a 7D and they just signed Attard, a RHD who fits as a 7D. Somebody has to be headed out.
Agreed. I’m holding out hope it’s Manson and Colton for Byram. How about this: Byram – Makar, Toews – Malinski, Girard – Burns. Bo gets the opportunity to be on the top pairing with Makar, Toews helps fully unlock Malinski, and the smaller Girard pairs with big, reliable Burns for a pairing that’s deceptively good on both ends.
Buffalo is dumb. But if they accept a package of Colton & Manson for Byram, Adams might get assassinated lol.
Plus the Avs still need an NHL level bottom 6. I don’t think Colton is a tradable option after trading Coyle, & with LOC being on the shelf for awhile.
I don’t get the fit. And I can’t imagine they move Manson out to make room for Burns. Nothing says contender about looking at a 40 year old to log top 4 mins. Maybe despite being a right shot they play him on the left side with Malinski? He’s been around forever, so I’m sure he’s played the left side at various points.
Really curious to know what the money is? If it’s anything more than 1.5 I really don’t understand.
Why would you think top 4? All he has to do is play solid third-pairing for $1m. He was substantially better than EJ last year, and that’s who he replaces.
I don’t think that’s their intention. The comment was in response to you referencing them potentially moving Manson.
I’m sure he’s got more left than EJ. I just don’t understand with all the available defenseman this is who they chose to bring in. But for a million bucks it’s fine.
That was someone else talking about moving Manson. I’d rather keep Manson and have him play fewer minutes. Like you said, no big deal if the cap hit is a million. I’d rather have Burns than Ceci, who robbed LA for $3.6m x 4. Absurd.
My mistake. Agreed him on the 3rd pair at a million bucks, no issue.
He played 23 games as a forward early in his career and had 23 points.
Ok….point being? He played forward literally during the George W Bush years. It’s pretty irrelevant to anything having to do with him at 40 now.
I don’t remember Dubya ever lacing them up!
Burns is larger and more intimidating than Manson. Josh played 48 games last season, Burns has played 12 years/925 games straight.
He ragdolled Ovechkin a more than a few times during the Canes/caps playoff series, Ovi is older but 240lbs is 240lbs.
Per PuckPedia his AAV is 1M but wouldn’t be surprised if there are also some performance incentives. Malinski is a natural right shot but I believe he has had experience on the left. Burns should definitely be on the 3rd pair but let’s hope he doesn’t move up for extended periods when Manson is out with the inevitable injuries
$3M in potential bonuses
Agreed on him playing up in the lineup. Plus the guy is 40. There’s no guarantee his game doesn’t just abruptly fall of a cliff & fast. I know the Canes were still playing him 20 mins a night. But looking at the totality of his season. I think the decline is in full effect.
I still would’ve preferred Orlov. But I’m sure he was/is going to be more expensive.
He can still play middle-pair minutes; he’s a fitness fanatic.
Don’t get the fit??? Let me ask you, age aside – – if someone told you the Avs could trade for a “D” man who played in all 82 games, had 29 points in those 82 games, was physical with experience, would you have signed him? And, he fits in the salary structure? “D” Games Played & Points for the Avs last season – Makar 92/80, Toews 76/44, Girard 73/24, Malinski 76/15, Manson 48/15, Middleton 41/2. I don’t understand all of Aarif’s consternation on where to play him. He’s an upgrade, period. Makar is wonderful player with great stats. But… Read more »
I don’t get the fit because he’s a right shot & the guy is still 40. His game could deteriorate rapidly. But if he’s a hard 5/6 & for a million bucks I’m fine with it. Burns is big but he isn’t physical. As someone else pointed out the dude had 11 hits ALL YEAR. Yes he’s big, but the guy has never been Chris Pronger. And if the plan is to move Manson to play Burns in the top 4. I’m sorry that’s just dumb. Manson is still when healthy a better defenseman & an actual physical presence. There… Read more »
Attard signed a 2 way deal. He’ll be a depth piece who will play with Eagles as an Avs call up.
Right, which means they already have a 7D for the right side. I’m not sure either Burns or Manson are going to be able to play their off-side. The only D the Avs have that I know has done that is Girard. I mean, it’s not a bad thing to have a bunch of RHD but they really need more space to shore up the bottom-six and need another NHL, 3rd-pair LHD. Going to be interesting to see what comes next.
I like it.
Well, he’s what everyone around here wants: a huge defenseman with a mean streak. So I guess welcome to CO, Burnsie? For some, it depends on the agreed upon “terms.”
Friedman tweeted it’s 1 million. For that number I’m fine with it. Games played bonuses could push it to 3. But I only care about the AV.
Burns isn’t mean at all, had his lowest hit total ever last season with 11.
I highly doubt burns will be a 7th dmen
It will be interesting to see who he replaces.
Can someone explain this signing. I would say trade Girard. Play burns with manson and sign Merrill.
Fun fact: Brent Burns played his first game against the Avs on October 16th, 2003. The Avs goalie that night: David Aebischer. Avs goal scorers that night: Andrei Nikolishin, Milan Hejduk, Peter Forsberg, rookie John Michael Liles scoring his first career goal, and Teemu Selanne.
Who says no
Trade necas to ducks for lacombe and nesterenko
Toews makar
Lacombe burns
Gustaffson malinski
He hasn’t missed s game in more than 12 seasons. He is big, has some jam, plays a good 2 way game. Ran Carolina’s PP. Averaged 21 mins ice time and scored 29 pts in 82 games. He agreed to a $1m x 1 yr deal. What’s not to like about this signing? He could play on either 2nd (with the right left shot partner) or 3rd pair easily.
The fact that he’s 40 lol. And he can be a defensive liability, is what’s not to like. I don’t personally care about any offensive upside he provides. But for a million bucks if it doesn’t work for whatever reason or he’s washed, it’s not going to hurt their cap situation. So 🤷. But….if they turn around & trade Manson & try to go with him in the top 4. I hate this.
I guess I just wonder why not focus their attention at getting someone younger who’s more of a defensive stalwart. And preferably a left handed shot.
I wouldn’t mind seeing him with Malinski if for nothing else than mentoring the kid. Burns has been around for a while and could help Malinski develop even more which would be more than ideal. In a perfect world I would love to see the Avs trade Necas and Manson for Colton parayko and then trade Nabokov for Aleski Protas. I know a lot of guys want Nabokov to be our next star goaltender but we are in a championship window right now so I think getting Protas as our 3C would make us a killer squad. Only question would… Read more »