Brent Burns signed a one-year contract with the Colorado Avalanche on Wednesday. Financial terms were not disclosed.
The 40-year-old defenseman was an unrestricted free agent. He had 29 points (six goals, 23 assists) in 82 games for the Carolina Hurricanes last season and five points (one goal, four assists) in 15 playoff games.
"It's obviously a special group," Burns said of the Avalanche on Thursday. "I think at this point it's exciting. Nervous for me. I just want to come in and join the group, to fit in, and I think my experience and time at the rink, I just want to bring some energy, bring some fun, some experience. Obviously, there's a lot of guys there that I can learn from, and I think it's always a big part of playing with different guys, everybody can learn from everybody. So I'm sure for me, it's going to be great, and hopefully some of those guys will see some different things and can learn from me, and I'm really looking forward to being a part of a special group."
Burns said he felt coming to Colorado gave him an opportunity to continue playing, and doing so for a Stanley Cup contender.
"I love coming to the rink every day and working," he said. "It really is the best. I think you're around guys that are chasing one goal, and there's just something special about it, all the laughs and the working hard together. It's just really special to try to build something together, and I just enjoy that process. I love, obviously, training and all that stuff going together. So I still love it.
"I think that's so important, the passion part of it, and I'm sure my wife likes having me go on road trips every once in a while, get me out of the house and stay clear of that a little bit to get out of the way. ... There's a lot of different reasons. I love that, and obviously the biggest one for me is there's still something to chase. So I'm still super motivated for that, and, yeah, there's one big goal still."
Burns has not missed a game the past 11 seasons; his streak of 925 consecutive games played is fourth in NHL history.
He had 133 points (34 goals, 99 assists) in 246 regular-season games for Carolina since being acquired in a trade with the San Jose Sharks on July 13, 2022.
"I think he's going to add a lot, actually, on and off the ice," Avalanche general manager Chris MacFarland said Thursday. "I think his career speaks for itself. He's a character, but when [it's] game time, practice time, [he's in] elite shape, takes care of himself. Committed hockey player, but I think there's also a juice component that he brings everywhere he's been. He's a beloved teammate. If you just talk to people and players and GMs that have been around him, this is a special person. So we're super excited to have him."
Burns was in the final season of an eight-year, $64 million contract ($8 million average annual value) he signed with the Sharks on Nov. 22, 2016.
The No. 20 pick by the Minnesota Wild in the 2003 NHL Draft, Burns has 910 points (261 goals, 649 assists) in 1,497 regular-season games for the Wild, Sharks and Hurricanes and 80 points (24 goals, 56 assists) in 135 playoff games.
"Just looking forward to getting there and being a part of the group and and getting to know guys and get back into the routine of things at the rink," he said. "Obviously, we got a couple months here before we get going. But, yeah, that excitement's there. We're looking forward to it."
NHL.com independent correspondent Ryan Boulding contributed to this report
