What does Brent Burns’ recent performance reveal about his standing in NHL history? On March 16, 2026, Burns scored a goal on five shots in a 7-2 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins, marking a significant milestone in his career.
This goal ended a six-game point drought for Burns and was the 271st of his career, allowing him to surpass Bobby Orr for seventh place on the all-time list of most goals scored by an NHL defenseman. The achievement is notable, especially considering that Burns took 1,563 games to reach this total, while Orr accomplished the feat in just 657 games.
Currently, Burns is 17 goals behind Larry Murphy for sixth place and 39 goals behind Denis Potvin for fifth place among NHL defensemen. His career total now stands at 937 points, with just 12 points needed to pass Chris Chelios and enter the top 10 for defensemen.
Burns’ consistency is also evident in his remarkable streak of 990 consecutive games played, making him the closest active player to Phil Kessel’s record of 1,064 consecutive games.
Burns was originally a first-round pick by Minnesota in 2003 and won the Norris Trophy in 2017, solidifying his reputation as one of the top defensemen in the league.
As he continues to break records and reach new milestones, the hockey community watches closely to see how far Burns can climb in the rankings of NHL defensemen.
Details remain unconfirmed regarding his future performance and potential records he may still achieve.
