Avalanche’s Brent Burns sets second-longest NHL iron man streak

Colorado Avalanche defenseman Brent Burns made NHL history on Saturday by appearing in the team’s game against the Winnipeg Jets.

By skating in his 990th consecutive game, Burns moved into second-place in NHL history for consecutive games played, trailing only Phil Kessel, who set the record in October of 2022.

Burns takes over the second spot from defenseman Keith Yandle, who had his streak ended by the Philadelphia Flyers in April of 2022.

Burns’ impressive streak spans his tenures with three separate teams, largely with the San Jose Sharks, with which the streak began all the way back on November 21, 2013 in a game against Tampa Bay.

The following season began a stretch of five in a row with San Jose in which Burns received votes for the Norris Trophy as the NHL’s top defenseman. He finished third for the honor in 2015-16 before winning it in 2016-17 for a campaign that saw him rack up 29 goals and 47 assists for 76 points.

Burns became a key figure in Sharks history, as he helped lead the team to the 2016 Stanley Cup Final, and he ranks fifth in franchise history with 594 points during his time in teal.

As the Sharks’ contention window was closing, they traded Burns to a team whose was opening in the Carolina Hurricanes, where Burns spent three seasons. In his age-37 season in Carolina, Burns was named an all-star and finished 10th in Norris voting.

The imposing right-shot defenseman appeared in two Eastern Conference Finals in his time in Raleigh.

This past offseason, Burns hit the free agent market and send with the Avalanche, as he continues to pursue an elusive Stanley Cup championship.

With 28 points in 64 games as a depth defender for the league’s top team, he continues to be a positive contributor at the highest levels of the sport.