{"id":539497,"date":"2026-04-04T01:18:39","date_gmt":"2026-04-04T01:18:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/539497\/"},"modified":"2026-04-04T01:18:39","modified_gmt":"2026-04-04T01:18:39","slug":"built-different-burns-nears-1000-straight-games","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/539497\/","title":{"rendered":"Built Different: Burns Nears 1,000 Straight Games"},"content":{"rendered":"

DENVER \u2014\u00a0Brent Burns has built a career on durability, but what he\u2019s doing now borders on absurd.<\/p>\n

At 41, the Colorado Avalanche defenseman is on the verge of a milestone that feels almost untouchable in today\u2019s NHL \u2014 his 1,000th consecutive regular-season game, set to come Saturday in Dallas. For a player who thrives in traffic, absorbs punishment, and dishes it right back, the streak isn\u2019t just impressive \u2014 it\u2019s staggering.<\/p>\n

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And it all traces back to a painful moment more than a decade ago.<\/p>\n

In October 2013, while playing for San Jose, Burns took a stray stick to the face \u2014 an incident that cost him teeth and time. When he returned on Nov. 21, 2013, he stepped right back into the lineup, scored that night, and hasn\u2019t missed a game since.<\/p>\n

That stretch \u2014 nearly 12 years of uninterrupted hockey \u2014 has left even his current coach shaking his head.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe plays through them like it\u2019s not a big deal,\u201d Avalanche coach Jared Bednar said. \u201c(The streak) is an incredible accomplishment. It\u2019s hard to believe.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Stanley Cup-winning coach was referring to the kinds of injuries Burns has endured throughout his career \u2014 the type that would typically sideline most players for weeks, if not months.<\/p>\n

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Burns, who turned 41 on March 9, signed a one-year deal with Colorado this season chasing the one prize missing from his r\u00e9sum\u00e9 \u2014 a Stanley Cup. Instead of fading into a limited role, he\u2019s become exactly what the Avalanche hoped for: a steady veteran presence who can still produce.<\/p>\n

He\u2019s tallied 11 goals this season, joining Hall of Famer Nicklas Lidstrom as the only defensemen in NHL history to score at least 10 times in a season at age 40 or older. He\u2019s also logging nearly 19 minutes a night, blocking shots, throwing hits, and anchoring shifts alongside a roster loaded with stars like Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar, and Martin Necas.<\/p>\n

But it\u2019s how he plays \u2014 not just that he plays \u2014 that makes the streak so remarkable.<\/p>\n

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At 6-foot-5 and 228 pounds, Burns doesn\u2019t avoid contact. He seeks it out. Every shift comes with the kind of wear and tear that sidelines most players multiple times a season, which makes his uninterrupted run even more difficult to comprehend.<\/p>\n

\"Burns<\/p>\n

Burns celebrating with Nathan MacKinnon. Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s the same guy that we\u2019ve been watching for a decade-plus, doing the exact thing,\u201d Bednar said. \u201cTo have guys with these ironman streaks get to a certain point … that\u2019s an unbelievable career and accomplishment just to get that as a player total, never mind in a row.\u201d<\/p>\n

The only streak ahead of him belongs to Phil Kessel, who played 1,064 straight games between 2009 and 2023 \u2014 a mark Burns is now within striking distance of if he keeps going.<\/p>\n

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Inside the Avalanche room, the respect for what Burns is doing runs deep \u2014 especially from captain Gabriel Landeskog, who understands the opposite side of the equation.<\/p>\n

After helping Colorado win the Stanley Cup in 2022, Landeskog missed three full seasons dealing with a lingering knee injury. Watching Burns show up night after night hasn\u2019t gone unnoticed.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe comes to the rink with a great attitude,\u201d Landeskog said. \u201cHe wants to be here. He\u2019s excited to come to work.\u201d<\/p>\n

Burns\u2019 routine has become something of a legend in itself. He lugs around a massive, military-style backpack packed with who-knows-what \u2014 recovery tools, coffee gear, or maybe both. Whatever\u2019s inside, it\u2019s clearly working.<\/p>\n

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He\u2019s now in his 22nd NHL season, approaching his 1,572nd career game, and still contributing at a high level with 83 blocked shots and counting.<\/p>\n

Even teammates can\u2019t quite wrap their heads around it.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn my position alone, you\u2019ll do something one game and your hip locks up a little bit,\u201d goaltender Scott Wedgewood said. \u201cIt\u2019s like, \u2018Thank God, I\u2019m not playing the next one. It feels like crap right now.\u2019<\/p>\n

\u201cThat happens 15 times a year, just on me, let alone taking body checks and slap shots. Playing as much as he does now at that age, keeping that body fresh and everything? He probably wouldn\u2019t be the one to tell you, but he\u2019s probably played through thousands of different nuances.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Burns\u2019 path to this moment has spanned two decades and four organizations. Drafted in the first round by Minnesota, he debuted in 2003 and spent seven seasons with the Wild before becoming a cornerstone in San Jose for 11 years. He later added three seasons in Carolina before landing in Colorado.<\/p>\n

\"Burns<\/p>\n

Burns playing for the Sharks in 2016. Credit: Kirby Lee<\/p>\n

His only trip to the Stanley Cup Final came in 2016 with the Sharks, where they fell to Pittsburgh in six games. He\u2019s appeared in 135 playoff contests, but the championship ring has remained just out of reach.<\/p>\n

Now, with the Avalanche sitting atop the standings and pushing toward the postseason, Burns finds himself in a familiar role \u2014 logging big minutes, making an impact, and, quietly, continuing a streak that has become one of the most remarkable in league history.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s just ridiculous,\u201d Makar said. \u201cFor him to be able to go out there every night and make an impact, and not just float around and do the minimum, is pretty spectacular, especially at his age.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Image\"<\/p>\n

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