Within three days, the 37-year-old defenseman was working out at the Hurricanes facility and looking for a house in the area, doing everything possible to make the transition a smooth one for him and his family. If there was no time then to reflect on his 11 seasons in San Jose and say his goodbyes, Burns will have some Friday.
After opening the season at home with a 4-1 win against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Wednesday, the Hurricanes visit the Sharks at SAP Center (10:30 pm ET; NBCSCA, BSSO, ESPN+, SN NOW). The date popped out immediately when Burns saw Carolina’s schedule.
“I don’t usually look at that stuff, but that one, yeah,” he said. “I don’t know if that’s a good thing or a bad thing. It will be fun to see the tank because the tank will be rocking.”
It will be the home opener for the Sharks, who began the season by losing two games to the Nashville Predators in the NHL Global Series in Prague on Oct. 7 and 8. And it will be an emotional night for Burns.
The long-bearded, camo-wearing animal lover quickly became part of the Sharks core after being acquired in a trade with the Minnesota Wild on June 24, 2011, riding shotgun with his bearded brother Joe Thornton, Patrick Marleau and Joe Pavelski. Together they helped San Jose reach the Stanley Cup Final for the first time in 2016 before losing to the Pittsburgh Penguins in six games.
Although Thornton (unsigned), Marleau (retired) and Pavelski (with Dallas Stars) also no longer play for the Sharks, Burns will see plenty of familiar faces Friday.
“It’s still weird for me to go to ‘Minny’ and it’s been 11 years,” Burns said. “So yeah, it will definitely be weird.”
With San Jose trying to rebuild on the fly after missing the Stanley Cup Playoffs the past three seasons, one of the first moves under new general manager Mike Grier after he was hired July 5 was to trade Burns and forward Lane Pederson to Carolina for forward. Steven Lorentzgoalie prospect Eetu Makiniemi and a conditional third-round pick in the 2023 NHL Draft.
Burns, who has three seasons remaining on the eight-year contract he signed in 2016, had to approve the trade before it could be completed.
“He had three teams he could be traded to, and we weren’t on that list initially,” Hurricanes general manager Don Waddell said. “So I talked to San Jose, and they talked to his agent, and he immediately said he’d come, so that was encouraging. Once we worked it out and I talked to him, a couple days later he was here buying a house and went back and got his family and moved here, and he’s been in the gym ever since.”
Video: CBJ@CAR: Hurricanes perform first surge of season
Burns, who won the Norris Trophy as the top defenseman in the NHL in 2016-17, was excited for the opportunity to play for a team with Stanley Cup aspirations. Carolina has qualified for the playoffs the past four seasons but hasn’t been able to get past the second round since reaching the Eastern Conference Final in 2019. He also was intrigued by playing for Rod Brind’Amour, the former Hurricanes captain who won the Jack Adams Award voted as NHL coach of the year in 2020-21.
“I’d always heard how special Rod was as a coach and what they were building here,” Burns said. “That’s not a secret around the League. I didn’t play against them very often, but you could still tell this was not always a fun place to come and play. The skill works hard. I think that was something that was important. In San Jose too, when we were really good, that was an important thing.
“And there was a lot of temptation in the city. Obviously, I love the outdoors. There’s just a lot of things.”
Burns didn’t waste any time submerging himself in all of it. He and his wife Susan, daughter Peyton, 12, son Jagger, 11 and daughter Olivia, 3, lived in the family RV for about a month while waiting to move into their new house, giving them a head start on settling into the area and Finding schools, doctors, and sports teams for the children.
Jagger landed on the same travel hockey team with Brind’Amour’s 10-year-old son, Brooks.
“I got to spend a lot of time with him and his family,” Brind’Amour said. “He’s really energized. I think it’s a good time to get a new place, if it was here or somewhere else, for a guy at that point in his career. I can remember that stage for me. It’s not hard, but it’s like you get a breath of fresh air when you go somewhere new and a new sense of energy.”
Spending the offseason in North Carolina instead of at his Texas ranch also gave Burns the chance to get to know some of his new teammates, including defense partner. Jacob Slavin, who lives in the area year-round with his wife Kylie and their two young children. The Slavins proved to be a valuable resource with recommendations for realtors, schools and pediatricians.
“I was trying to help out the best I could,” Slavin said. “He’s come to church with me a couple times too, so that’s been fun and just hanging out, it’s been good. … It’s fun to watch his passion for the game and off the ice he’s just such a genuine guy, really nice, really talkative, open to any conversation.”
Burns’ commitment in the gym with strength and conditioning coach Bull Burniston made an instant impression. That dedication has helped Burns remain remarkably durable and productive over 18 NHL seasons.
Last season, Burns had 54 points (10 goals, 44 assists) and was third in the NHL averaging 26:09 of ice time in 82 games. He has scored at least 20 goals three times and at least 60 points five times and his streak of 680 straight regular-season games is second among active players behind Phil Kessel (983) of the Vegas Golden Knights.
“He’s just an animal,” Hurricanes captain Jordan Staal said. “He’s just ready to work. He literally fits the mold of a Carolina Hurricane to a T.”
Adding Burns to their top defense pair with Slavin and power-play point was important for the Hurricanes, but they value him equally for what he can bring to their locker room with his experience and personality.
“He’s big (6-foot-5, 230 pounds). He can defend. He can put up points. There’s nothing really he doesn’t do,” Brind’Amour said. “So that in itself is pretty good. But when you add the bonus stuff with the character, the team aspect, at the end of the day, I think that’s what puts teams over the hump.”
Still hungry to lift the Cup for the first time, Burns would love to help the Hurricanes win their first championship since 2006. They must navigate the long grind of the first regular season, but Burns is looking forward to the journey.
He’s already feeling at home.
“I’m happy to be here,” Burns said. “Everything has been great. It wasn’t a hard decision when this was brought up to have a chance to come here and play with these guys. It’s been exciting.”
.