After eleven seasons in San Jose, Brent Burns is ready for a new challenge with the Carolina Hurricanes. Yet the legendary defenseman was candid about how difficult it will be to leave San Jose and their fans.
It was an emotional day for the Sharks organization on Wednesday.
San Jose traded longtime defenseman Brent Burns and AHL forward Lane Pederson to the Carolina Hurricanes in exchange for Steven Lorentz, goalie prospect Eetu Makiniemi and a conditional 2023 third-round pick.
Burns spoke to reporters after the trade had become official and reflected upon his time with the Sharks and the bittersweet feeling following the move.
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"For me, San Jose has been such a special place for a long time and I really grew as a player so much there and learned so much from a lot of guys there and it was a special place for us," Burns told reporters. "I think for me, I'm coming to a time where winning and having a chance to win it all is all that matters right now.
"There's a lot going on in my head right now. Obviously, there's a sadness and a lot of looking back at the good times I've had in San Jose and all the people there I've gotten to know over the last couple years. Just a great bunch of guys, great organization, amazing city and fans and just a huge rush of energy and excitement to come to Carolina."
Burns thanked Sharks fans in an Instagram post Wednesday afternoon as well.
The Sharks' decision to trade Burns didn't come as a surprise, especially after new general manager Mike Grier expressed the organization's desire to shed salary. Both Grier and Burns spoke on the phone Wednesday, each with an understanding of how difficult these trades can be.
"It's been kind of percolating a little bit the last few days," Grier said. "Brent and I had a good conversation the other day and we had some teams interested, so it was something that we started to explore and [Hurricanes GM Don Waddell] was good to work with in Carolina and we were able to work something out today."
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"I've got nothing but great things to say about talking to him," Burns said of his conversation with Grier. "I know he's been through a lot and it's been a pretty crazy time for him. When I did get the chance to talk to him, it was great. As a former player he knows what I'm going through, he's coming to a new team to make his mark. He was great, he was very supportive of me, we had a great talk about where I am in my career. He's been very open and honest with us."
Grier, who played 14 seasons in the NHL, understands both the business and player's side to trades such as these. Fortunately for the Sharks and Burns, the move presented the 37-year-old with an opportunity to move on and finally compete again for a Stanley Cup with one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference.
"I think we're trying to get a little bit younger and get some cap flexibility and kind of just mold the way that the team is going to look and play and Brent is a great player, he's had a great career and we wish him nothing but the best," Grier added.
"And for him, I've been in his position, you can kind of see the light at the end of the road and start to feel your hockey mortality a bit and he wants to win and get a chance to get a cup and I think he'll have the chance to do that in Carolina. We're just not quite at that point here."
Not only was Burns a leader and veteran presence in a youthful Sharks locker room, but he also averaged over 26 minutes on the ice per game, the third-most in the NHL last season. Grier and the Sharks know that it won't be easy to replace Burns but hope that other veterans, such as defenceman Erik Karlsson step up in his place.
"It'll have to be a team effort to replace Burnsie, you don't replace someone like him with just one player most of the time," Grier told reporters. "It's going to be a team effort, we're going to need some guys to step up and play a few more minutes, but at the same time I think it's a great opportunity for [Erik Karlsson] to maybe grab the reigns a little bit more, play in some different situations and get back to being the top-dog and not have to share ice in certain situations."
"It shows you how special a player Brent was. When I talked to him today he was pulling off to the side of the road to go do a workout somewhere ... he's a special talent, we'll definitely miss him and he's going somewhere where I think he'll be happy and has a chance to play deep into the playoffs and try and win a cup."
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After 11 seasons with the Sharks, Burns certainly faced an emotional day Wednesday, who was able to call a few longtime teammates while driving back home to Texas with his family in his 45-foot RV.
"I made some calls today with some guys and it's tough," Burns said. "We've seen guys leave every year, we've had guys that have left the last couple years that meant a lot to us and were our mentors coming through and made a lot of us the players that we are today."
It truly is a new era of Sharks hockey, one that Grier and the front office believe won't consist of a rebuild.
Having missed the playoffs for three seasons in a row, San Jose will rely on the remaining veteran leaders to establish a winning culture in an organization that continues to experience plenty of turnover year after year.
