Burns scoring more goals than 5 clubs' entire defensive rosters
Observers of the 2016-17 campaign are running out of ways to accurately put into words just how phenomenal Brent Burns has been. With 28 goals and 73 points through 79 games, Burns has made burning the opposition a nightly habit.
But how's this for perspective: Burns isn't just outscoring the rest of the NHL's defensemen this season - he's also outscoring whole defensive units.
CSN California highlighted this fact during their Sunday night broadcast of the San Jose Sharks' 3-1 win over the Vancouver Canucks, showing Burns' 28 goals in comparison to those scored by all Canucks' rearguards combined:
That's kind of impressive. #Burns4Norris pic.twitter.com/HSvXNW09CM
— San Jose Sharks (@SanJoseSharks) April 3, 2017
Needless to say, it wasn't a great look for the Canucks.
But Vancouver isn't the only club to see their total blue line goal-scoring output quashed by The Bearded One.
In total, Burns' 28 tallies sit above the combined totals of five clubs' defensive units, while tying one other:
| Team (Defensemen Only) | Total Goals |
|---|---|
| *Brent Burns | 28 |
| Toronto Maple Leafs | 28 |
| Washington Capitals | 26 |
| New Jersey Devils | 27 |
| Vancouver Canucks | 19 |
| Colorado Avalanche | 17 |
| Buffalo Sabres | 16 |
The most surprising club listed is undoubtedly the Washington Capitals. Alex Ovechkin's crew is no stranger to putting goals on the board, ranking as the NHL's second-best offensive team, but it seems goal-scoring prowess doesn't extend to the back end.
Meanwhile, in San Jose, Burns continues to carry the Sharks' mail all by his lonesome.
The craziest thing about that goal total? Burns has just one goal in his past 20 games. And yet, even with that extensive drought, he continues to outscore entire groups of blue-liners from other teams.
That sound? It's the Norris Trophy debate quickly quieting to a low murmur.