Brent Burns is a Canadian defenseman who plays for the San Jose Sharks. He was traded to the Sharks in 2011 when the Minnesota Wild dealt Charlie Coyle, Devin Setoguchi, and Zack Phillips to the team. He has been a part of the Sharks’ successful run since then.

Brent Burns’ defensive-first style of play

Brent Burns is an NHL defenceman and former Norris Trophy winner. His style of play is as recognizable as his off-ice persona. As a result, Burns is able to play both forward and defense very effectively. He has scored 54 points in 81 games and has a minus-14 rating. He has not missed a single game this season.

A defenseman, Brent Burns has the ability to score on a one-timer, a slap shot from the blueline, or a wrist shot through the traffic in the net. He also doesn’t shy away from taking risks. His aggressive style allows him to break open games with a few quick goals. However, it also requires him to be more patient with his shots and avoid too many turnovers.

Brent Burns has evolved his game since joining the Wild in 2011. He is now one of the most exciting players in the league. He scored 27 goals in the 2015-16 season and added a season-high 29 goals in 2016-17. He has won several awards and was named Best Defenseman at the IIHF World Championships, where he helped Team Canada to finish second.

His cap hit

Brent Burns, a 37-year-old right defenseman, is a high-priced, high-cap hit player for the San Jose Sharks. His contract includes $64 million guaranteed, an average annual salary of $8 million, a $3,000,000 base salary, and a $3,500,000 signing bonus. Although Burns’ contract is expensive, it may be worth it for the Sharks.

In addition to a high cap hit, Brent Burns has a full no-move clause that means he can be traded to any team without his consent. He has three years left on his current contract, which carries an $8 million cap hit. While his actual salary is only $16.5 million over the next three seasons, Burns will make a signing bonus of $3.5 million this summer. Burns’ cap hit is comparable to Shea Weber and Erik Karlsson’s. The only other long-term contract in Burns’ range is a contract that is illegal under the CBA.

While Burns is a great player, his high cap hit is a huge negative. The salary cap will always be a factor, but it’s especially important to pay attention to it with a high-priced player like Burns. His contract is incredibly expensive, and it is also likely that he won’t win the Cup this season.

His 82-game pace

Brent Burns has a good chance of finishing another full season without missing a game. He is on pace for 54 points in 82 games and has a minus-14 rating. He is also on pace to have his best offensive season since 2013-14, when he scored a power-play goal and added an assist in a shootout win against the Vegas Golden Knights.

Brent Burns averaged 25:52 of ice time during the regular season, which ranks him seventh in the league. His 82-game pace is good, but he lacks the elite shot rate and point pace that make him a top-five defenseman. Therefore, he should not be considered for a top-five defenseman or a top-five draft pick. However, he is a good option for those in points-only leagues.

Brent Burns’ 82-game pace has been hard to predict. While few players in the NHL are supposed to hit this pace, this season, he might just sneak up on it. With his 15 shooting percentage, he might even flirt with the efficiency level of a forward. If he can score 82 points in as many games, he could be on his way to signing a new contract.

His risk of getting compromised

Brent Burns has a reputation for being a good point shooter, but he’s also made a few mistakes this season. For example, he turned the puck over in his own end to give the Golden Knights a goal. Burns is usually a good passer, but on this play, he got beat by Alex Tuch in the neutral zone. It was even worse considering that the Golden Knights had just thrown a nearly identical stretch pass at Burns and he missed it by a couple of seconds.

Despite these issues, Burns is an elite skater and a good puck-mover. He is especially dangerous with the puck when he is in the offensive zone. He’s an elite forward for his size, and he has great decision-making skills. But his biggest problems come when he’s in his own zone, or he turns the puck over.

Fortunately, the Carolina Hurricanes have one of the best defensive corps in the NHL. Their best defenseman is Jaccob Slavin, so Burns can focus on his offensive game. While his risk of getting compromised by an elite jersey may be a concern, he’s still a good option at the current price.