Jacob Slavin has been a terrific defenseman for the Carolina Hurricanes since being selected in the fourth round of the 2012 NHL Draft. Slavin has finished in the top 20 in Norris Trophy, voting for the league’s best defenseman for the last six seasons. The last campaign saw a career-high in points with 42 and a whopping plus-35 rating. But a new addition to the Hurricanes’ lineup just might be in the mix for the Norris this season.
In July, the San Jose Sharks traded defenseman Brent Burns and AHL forward Lane Pederson to the Hurricanes for Steven Lorentz, goalie prospect Eetu Makiniemi and a conditional 2023 third-round pick. The Hurricanes had a middle-of-the-pack power play ranking 13th in the National Hockey League in 2021-22 with 51 power-play goals in 82 games. Only four of those goals were scored by a defenseman, one of them being Tony D’Angelo, who is no longer on the team. The Canes wanted to add an offensive-minded defenseman and targeted Burns, who won the Norris Trophy in 2016-17 and finished second in voting in 2018-19 and third in 2015-16. But the 37-year-old right-shot d-man has been one of the better offensive blueliners in the league with 227 career goals, which include 54 on the man advantage. The 6-foot-5, 230-pound Burns will help the Hurricanes add another dimension to their team.
Carolina won the Metropolitan Division last season with 116 points and lost in the second round to the New York Rangers in the postseason. One area of need coming into this campaign was offense from the back end, and Burns will provide that. Since the trade, the veteran defenseman has been revitalized and showed his newfound energy in the season opener Wednesday night with six shots on goal in a 4-1 win over Columbus. Being a top-pair defenseman with Slavin should give Burns the ice time and ability to accumulate the points to give him a chance for a nomination for the Norris this season. The field will be strong with reigning Norris winner Colorado’s Cale Makar and other top defensemen Victor Hedman in Tampa Bay, Adam Fox with the New York Rangers, and Roman Josi of Nashville. Boston’s Charlie McAvoy should also get consideration again after returning from shoulder surgery later in the season.
The opportunity just might be there for Burns, who will be on a Stanley Cup-contending team with good offensive talent. Burns’ effect on his new team should be noticeable around the league. When the Barrie, Ontario native won the Norris Trophy six seasons ago, he registered 29 goals and 47 assists for a staggering 76 points. As a runner-up in ’18-19, Burns compiled 83 points. The numbers this season might not be at that level, but they still should be around the 54-point total in his 18th season last year.
Slavin has been a pillar for the Carolina Hurricanes and makes a great pair with the newcomer Burns. The two should combine to be among the best pairings in the league. And Burns should reap the benefits. It might be a bit of a reach, but Brent Burns might be back in the Norris conversation for the first time in four seasons. And if he is, the Hurricanes’ defenseman could be hoisting a trophy…or two.
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