Brent Burns News

The Sharks have already been shut down through the Christmas break, so we'll see when they resume play next week. Burns will likely be out until at least next Thursday.

Burns is a special player and that forced the Sharks to sign him to the longest contract in franchise history. Burns will be 32 in March, so he will be 40-year-old in the final year of his contract, which isn’t ideal, but was necessary to get him signed. After a historic 2015-16 season, Burns has picked up 16 points (7G / 9A) in 19 games, to put him on pace for a career-high 30 goals and 38 assists (68 points)

Burns put up good numbers in his first full NHL season as a forward, scoring 48 points in 69 games (22G / 26A). He was, however, a streaky player, at one point going 19 games between goals and adding just two goals and one assist in seven playoff games while playing on Joe Thornton’s wing. “That size, the strength, the shot – you just saw Montreal with a guy that’s a bit of a wild stallion go and make plays,” GM Doug Wilson said, referring to P.K Subban. “Burnzie, to us, is that type of ingredient that we need, so that will be taking place.”

Still, the Sharks improved to 8-0-1 this season with Burns in the lineup. Burns has faced the Devils (tonight's opponent) just four times in his career, with one goal and one assist.

Burns has been scratched for the last 13 games, after taking a series of high hits that included a whack in the face from Ottawa goaltender Robyn Lehner on Oct. 12. He had four goals and four assists in his first eight games on a line with Thornton and Tomas Hertl, with seven of his eight points coming at even strength.

Burns returned to the top-line in practice yesterday which is a good sign. The Sharks will hit the ice for their morning skate shortly and we will have an update on Burns' status for tonight following the skate.

Burns has missed 13 games, but could be back tomorrow. We have been here before with Burns and this injury - it looks like he is close and then he doesn't play. I won't get anyone's hopes up, monitor his status following tomorrow's morning skate.

Wilson also said that there is a chance that Burns plays on Thursday, but that will be up to the medical staff. Burns was originally expected to miss only a few days with a mouth injury, but it has cost him 13 games. Consider him questionable for Thursday.

It sounds like Burns has had a setback in his recovery. He had shed the non-contact jersey, but putting it back on today is not a good sign. "There’s days where I think he’s really close, and there’s other days when you want to do some work with him and he doesn’t seem able to do it,” head coach Todd McLellan said.

Burns will miss his 10th straight game, but is progressing towards a return. It continues to be a day-to-day situation, monitor his status for Thursday's game.

Burns continues to progress towards a return, but it does not appear that it will be tomorrow. James Neal randomly played on Saturday though so don't completely rule him out yet. His next opportunity to play would be Thursday versus Vancouver.

Burns will miss his ninth straight contest tonight. He traveled with the team to Winnipeg, but will not play. Monitor his status prior to Tuesday's game vs. Calgary.

Burns continues to practice, but has yet to shed the "don't hit me jersey". There is still no timetable for Burns return, but until he gets rid of that no-contact jersey he should be considered out. Monitor his status prior to Sunday's contest but it does not look promising.

Burns will miss his eighth straight game since being injured in a collision on October 19. He continues to practice with the Sharks but is not ready to return to the lineup. He will likely return at some point during the Sharks upcoming road trip that starts on Sunday in Winnipeg.

This is a great sign for the Sharks and Burns fantasy owners. Burns will not play tonight, but is nearing a return and should be considered questionable for Thursday.

The Sharks have been vague when it comes to the details of Burns’ injury. “Getting closer, from what I’ve been told,” Todd McLellan said on Monday. “He’s welcome back any time, obviously. We’d love to have him back with our team. From my understanding, he’s getting closer.” Could Burns return to practice this week? "I don’t have that. He and the trainers and the doctors know when that will happen,” McLellan said.

Burns was wearing pads for the first time today, but he continues to skate alone and not with the Sharks. The fact that he didn't skate with his teammates today suggests he won't be in the lineup tomorrow or this week. If you are in a weekly league I think it would be wise to keep Burns on the bench again this week.