Burns set to succeed in 1,500 NHL video games when Avalanche host Stars

DENVER — Brent Burns could also be on the verge of his 1,five hundredth NHL sport, however in some methods he doesn’t really feel as if he’s had so lengthy of a profession.

“It’s probably like raising kids a little bit. They say like every day feels like it’s 10 years, but 10 years goes in the blink of an eye too,” the Colorado Avalanche defenseman stated Friday. “I definitely feel like I just started, but also at the same time, it’s been a long grind too.”

Burns, whose profession has spanned 22 seasons and 4 groups, is about to turn out to be the twenty third participant and eighth defenseman in NHL historical past, in addition to the one lively participant, to succeed in the milestone when the Avalanche host the Dallas Stars on Saturday (9 p.m. ET; Victory+, KTVD, ALT).

The different seven defensemen are Zdeno Chara (1,680), Chris Chelios (1,651), Scott Stevens (1,635), Larry Murphy (1,615), Ray Bourque (1,612), Nicklas Lidstrom (1,564) and Ryan Suter (1,526).

“It’s incredibly impressive,” Colorado coach Jared Bednar stated. “Eighth defenseman to ever do it. And if you happen to take a look at the fellows on that listing, I bear in mind it, glancing at it, it is fairly spectacular guys. Hall of Famers. It’s spectacular to hit 1,000. Every sport after that is a bonus, I’m certain.

“Now he’s at 1,500 and it’s hard to do, especially like, they’re not easy minutes that he plays. He’s an older guy now, and to me, the streak he has of games he’s played in a row, it’s part of the reason why he’s hit 1,500. But to be able to play the way he does, as physically as he does, and to be able to stay healthy for as long as he has, it’s amazing.”

The 40-year-old, who was the oldest participant on an NHL opening night time roster this season, can be within the midst of the fourth-longest consecutive video games performed streak in NHL historical past, and the longest lively. He’s skated in 927 straight, a feat that’s a testomony to his longevity, final lacking a sport in November 2013.

“I think it’s a lot of luck. It’s definitely timing of different things that have happened,” Burns stated. “You hear guys say it all the time, but you’re pretty lucky to have great people that take care of you and get you through the 2 1/2 hours you’ve got to get through. And a lot of times it’s just been very lucky with different schedule breaks and when different things have happened.”

Burns, who has 910 factors (261 targets, 649 assists) in 1,499 video games with the Minnesota Wild, San Jose Sharks, Carolina Hurricanes and Avalanche, and 80 factors (24 targets, 56 assists) in 135 Stanley Cup Playoff video games, has made a profession out of studying from these round him, absorbing as a lot as he can from teammates and opponents. Two key figures who helped him early on are former Sharks teammates Patrick Marleau (1,779 video games performed) and Joe Thornton (1,714).

“They’re both very different guys, but [I] learned a ton from both,” Burns stated. “’Patty’ was just so even-keeled and so professional in the way he took care of himself. And ‘Jumbo’ just had an unbelievable mentality. He always used to say, ‘Just play 82. You’ve got to play 82. There’s no nights off.’ His mentality was just unbelievable to see and be a part of and learn from, and definitely, both those guys were huge for me in many ways.”