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Avalanche Defenseman Brent Burns to Join Elite Company

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Sean Hartnett | Last updated Oct 11, 2025 3:08 PM ET

Colorado Avalanche defenseman Brent Burns has enjoyed a distinguished 22-year NHL career — and he’s about to add another feather to his cap.

On Saturday, the 40-year-old defenseman will join an elite group of blue liners by skating in his 1,500th career game. He will become the eighth defenseman to reach the milestone. Only 23 players in NHL history have participated in 1,500 games.

Only Seven Other Defensemen Have Reached the 1,500-Game Mark

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) are the other seven defenseman to skate in 1,500 games.

The Avalanche will host the Dallas Stars on Saturday night at Ball Arena. All eyes will be on Burns and his trademark flowing beard. Colorado has opened the 2025-26 season with a perfect 2-0-0 record.

Several preseason projections and analysts have placed the Avalanche among favorites to lift the Stanley Cup. Burns has contributed to Colorado’s early success, teaming on a second defensive pairing alongside Josh Manson. He’s averaged 20:49 ice time per game and has seen time on the second power play unit.

Burns Continues to Defy Father Time

Minnesota Wild defenseman Brent Burns (8) against the Buffalo Sabres at the Xcel Energy Center. The Sabres defeated the Wild in overtime 3-2. Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY SportsBrace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports

Even at his advanced hockey playing age, Burns has proven that he still has plenty of jump left in his skates. He is currently the oldest player in the NHL at 40 years and 216 days.

He's enjoyed stints with the Minnesota Wild, San Jose Sharks, Carolina Hurricanes and now the Avalanche. It seems like a very long time ago that he was a fresh-faced rookie for the Wild before he grew his bushy beard and before he lost several teeth.

Burns doesn’t appear to be getting ahead of himself as the milestone night approaches.

“Still got to make it through another night,” Burns told NHL.com. “Obviously, everything's a lot harder as you get older. But I just love it. Even a day like today, the body doesn't feel too good, but you get going in practice, and you get seeing guys get the sweat going, and you just start laughing. Those are things you can't take for granted. “I think you’ve got to enjoy it.”

Could Burns Add Career-Defining Cup with Avs?

Colorado Avalanche defenseman Brent Burns (84) and defenseman Samuel Girard (49) celebrate a goal scored in the first period against the Utah Mammoth at Ball Arena. Ron Chenoy-Imagn ImagesRon Chenoy-Imagn Images

He might not be as valuable as he was during his heyday with the Sharks, where he captured the 2016-17 Norris Trophy, but Burns still packs a lot of hockey player into his 6-foot-5 frame.

Through 1,499 career regular season games, the big-bodied blue liner has tallied 910 points (261 goals, 649 assists). He’s dressed for 135 playoff games. Perhaps with the Avs, he’ll have his best shot at securing a Stanley Cup championship ring.

Lifting the Stanley Cup with the Avs would be a fitting way for Burns to close the book on his outstanding career.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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