Martin Necas knew the Colorado Avalanche returned its top six defensemen from last season, but he still did a double-take the first time he saw the guy who sits next to him at Family Sports Center.
Necas has played with Brent Burns since 2022, first with the Carolina Hurricanes and now in Denver. When Burns showed up with a new look, hockey fans on the internet weren’t the only ones startled by the 41-year-old’s appearance.
“I was like, ‘Who the hell is that?’” Necas said. “The beard, the teeth, the haircut — he did not look like ‘Burnsie.’ He’s back in his 30s now, for sure.”
The Viking-style beard is gone. The hair is groomed. The gap between his teeth might be gone — when he wants it to be, anyway.
But the guy who has been on the NHL’s biggest characters for 22 years and nearly 1,600 games has not changed. Burns signed another one-year contract in late June with the Avs, ensuring a 23rd season — and a chance for NHL history.
Burns has played in 1,007 consecutive games. It is the second-longest streak in league history. He needs 57 more to match Phil Kessel, and a 58th to become the NHL’s all-time ironman.
It’s become part of the external narrative with Burns. It’s bordered on mythology at times. He has continued to downplay it.
“I don’t really think about it. I just don’t,” Burns said. “I’m trying to figure out what stick I’m going to use tomorrow and what I’m going to eat tonight. I don’t really think about all the other stuff. Too much can happen. I think you start thinking about that, (expletive) will happen. I’m not really lying. I just don’t think about it, to be honest.
“I don’t really care about it, either. I think if you did, you’re just not … it’s not really about that.”
The discourse about Burns and the streak has not always been positive. There were concerns at times during his three seasons with the Hurricanes, particularly late in the season, that the streak was hindering his ability to stay fresh and perform at his best in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
His first year in Denver was a success for Burns. He played less — 18:59 per game was Burns’ lowest since 2013-14, when he played forward for the San Jose Sharks. But he also had 12 goals and 36 points, and settled into an effective pairing with fellow veteran Josh Manson.
His playoff numbers were solid as well — the Avs had 60.14% of the shot attempts when Burns was on the ice at 5-on-5, which was the best on the team. Colorado outscored opponents 11-8 with Burns on the ice, and produced 55.55% of the expected goals (which was third among the defensemen).
Only two Avs players were on the ice for more goals than goals against in the Western Conference Final — Nazem Kadri and Burns.
“I’m not going to be the guy who breaks that streak,” Avs coach Jared Bednar said. “I’ve got way too much respect for him, for what he’s done in his career and for what he’s doing for us on a daily basis. He’s proven to me he deserves to be in the lineup. I’m hoping, knock on wood, that he can stay healthy and get (the record).
“I thought he had a great season. I think he’s an impact player in different areas every night. I love his presence in the locker room, like all the intangibles he brings too.”
When Burns was asked about his decision to keep playing at media day, his answer was brief. When asked again on Friday, it was again.
It was an easy decision, apparently.
“I knew he was not done yet,” Necas said. “I was happy when we were in touch and he was getting closer to signing here. He’s a great guy, great human being. He’s still a really good player and can bring a lot to your team and locker room as well.”
Burns’ story as a workout warrior, a sportsman and one of the league’s biggest personalities has been well told by now. Necas likes to use the phrase “acts like he’s 15” when talking about his stallmate at the club’s practice facility.
While Burns’ laugh could fill a ballroom, the joy he exudes every day at the rink is genuine. His ability to be both a goofball and the consummate professional on the ice and in the weight room is just part of his lore at this point.
“I think you’ve got to enjoy the fun things, the (expletive) things, the mundane things,” Burns said. “You’ve got to enjoy being at the rink. That definitely helps because it’s not easy. It’s not all great. There are some hard days, hard work. Some days you’ve got to work out, but you don’t really want to. I think when you’re in a group that loves the work, we just kind of naturally have fun doing it. That helps too.”
He’s also been a temporary landlord for Avs prospect T.J. Hughes leading up to training camp. Both were part of a large group of players who came to Denver weeks ahead of camp, so the Burnses became something of a billet family for Hughes.
It’s all part of what keeps Burns feeling younger than his birth certificate says, and keeps him coming back for another chance to chase the elusive Stanley Cup.
“You look at the summer he’s had — he came back in phenomenal condition,” Bednar said. “It’s not just the beard, or the lack of a beard, that’s making him look younger.”
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