BOSTON — Brent Burns walked out of the San Jose Sharks locker room after his team’s morning skate Tuesday wearing a suit and an extra-large camouflage backpack, complete with the best beard in the NHL.
He’s a beast, in more ways than one.
“They’re a good well-balanced team, you know,” Bruins head coach Claude Julien said. “Their goaltending has been good. They’ve got Burns on defense who, to me — he’s a beast, you know. So big, strong, mobile, skates well, shoots the puck well. They’ve got a good asset back there.”
Burns, who has spent substantial time as a winger over the last few seasons, moved back to his natural defenseman role to start the 2015-16 campaign. The move has given the Sharks much-needed toughness and skill on the back end, something first-year Sharks head coach Pete DeBoer knew after coaching Burns at the World Championships.
“I had an appreciation of him coming in,” DeBoer said. “He was the best defenseman of the tournament last May. I knew how special this guy could be. I think he’s translating that to a full NHL season.”
Burns’ offensive production hasn’t slowed after transitioning to the blue line. He’s tallied 12 points (five goals, seven assists) in 17 games after setting a career high of 60 points in 82 games last season.
Burns also is a threat on the power play with his booming shot from the point, playmaking skill and ability to execute clean breakouts with smooth skating through the neutral zone. His 3:33 of power-play ice time per game is tied for the team lead.
The Bruins, whose penalty kill ranks dead last with a 71.7 percent success rate, must be aware of him at all times when San Jose has the man advantage.
Given his high-end offensive skill, Burns tends to jump into the attack in the offensive zone. Even though he’s smart about doing it in spots where his team won’t be too vulnerable if San Jose loses puck possession, it’s a good idea to pair him with a stay-at-home defenseman who will cover for him if needed.
DeBoer has done just that, pairing Burns with veteran Paul Martin, who joined the Sharks in July on a free-agent contract. This tandem has played 210:54 of even-strength ice time together, by far the most time Burns has spent with one defenseman this season.
“Having a guy like Paul Martin back there has helped (Burns), just that veteran presence” DeBoer said. “He’s a real rock back there for him and allows him to do his thing, which is as good as anybody in the league.
“I don’t think there’s another defenseman with the package of skill and size and physicality that he has. He’s a special player.”
Thumbnail photo via John Hefti/USA TODAY Sports Images
