Burns is Sharks Foundation Sharks Player of the Year

SAN JOSE - The San Jose Sharks (
@SanJoseSharks
) announced today that defenseman Brent Burns (
@Burnzie88
) has been selected as the Sharks Foundation "Sharks Player of the Year" for 2016-17 in a vote by the Bay Area media. The award is given to the player contributing most to the success of the Sharks in the 2016-17 regular season.
The award was presented prior to the game on April 8, 2017 against the Calgary Flames at SAP Center at San Jose.
This is the first time Burns has been named Sharks Player of the Year.

Burns has posted 75 points (29 goals, 46 assists) and a plus-19 rating in 81 games this season. Burns leads the Sharks in assists and points, and is tied for first on the team in goals. Overall, he ranks T-8th in the NHL in points, and T-12th in assists. Among defensemen, Burns leads the NHL in points and goals and ranks 3rd in assists. His 29 goals are a Sharks franchise record for a defenseman in a single season, and ranks as the 18th highest single season total by a defenseman in NHL history. In addition, his 75 points have tied his own Sharks franchise record for most points by a blueliner in a single season (set last year), and he has become the first defenseman in the NHL since Brian Leetch (1995-96/96-97) to post back-to-back 75-points seasons.
Burns was also named the Sharks Foundation "Sharks Player of the Month" during the month of October. He put up 10 points (3-7=10) in nine games, with points in six of those contests.
The defender was named to his third NHL All-Star game this season, and helped Team Canada win the 2016 World Cup of Hockey prior to the 2016-17 NHL regular season. He finished third in voting for the NHL's Norris Trophy last season, awarded to the League's top defenseman.
The six-foot-five, 230-pound native of Barrie, Ontario was originally selected by Minnesota in the first round (20th overall) of the 2003 NHL Draft. He was acquired by San Jose from Minnesota on June 24, 2011.