.jpg)
1 hour ago
3
Brent Burns has played out a storied NHL career.
A first-round draft pick in 2003 as a winger, he became a defenseman and grew into one of the league's best. And more than two decades later, he's still playing for the Colorado Avalanche.
Burns has an active consecutive games streak that's within striking distance of the all-time NHL record, and he was still really good this season in playing all 82 games for the Colorado Avalanche.
The Avs are one of the favorites to win the Stanley Cup, and that's a feat Burns has never accomplished.
MORE: Sabres' storybook season is real, and Stanley Cup dreams are valid
He turned 41 in March, but somehow still isn't slowing down much.
If the Avalanche hoist the Cup, expect Burns to have played a crucial role.
Only when this postseason is done will the hockey world learn what might be involved in Burns' future.
MORE: Sidney Crosby is a bad omen for Connor McDavid
Is Brent Burns retiring?
Given that Burns can set the NHL's consecutive games played record, it seems he might want to continue playing.
But NHL analyst Matt Larkin of Daily Faceoff raised the question of retirement in a new article on Friday.
"Straight up: Burns has been legitimately excellent at both ends of the ice this season, and his minutes haven’t even been sheltered that much by 41-year-old standards," Larkin writes. "Does he want to keep playing? It may depend on whether he wins a Stanley Cup with the powerhouse Avs this year."
Burns might just play forever, but he is at that age where the question starts to become quite valid.
English (US)