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The Carolina Hurricanes are acquiring D Brent Burns from the San Jose Sharks, per multiple reports. The Dallas Stars were also being reported as in on Burns, per Pierre LeBrun. Here are the full details of the trade:
Sharks-Hurricanes trade:
— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) July 13, 2022
Brent Burns and Lane Pederson for Steven Lorentz, goalie prospect Eetu Makiniemi and a conditional 2023 3rd-round pick. Sharks are retaining 33 percent of Burns contract. @TSNHockey @TheAthletic
This is a very good deal for the Hurricanes if Burns can regain his Norris form. That’s a stretch, but just having his offensive ability is fine for Carolina, which was the best defensive team all season in 2021-22. Burns adds a dynamic to the blue line the Hurricanes had been lacking. The Sharks are also retaining salary, which is great for Carolina’s cap flexibility.
The Sharks are in the midst of a rebuild and could use someone taking Burns off their hands. The Norris Trophy-winning defenseman has three years left on his contract at $8 million annually. Burns won the Norris Trophy back in 2016-17 and helped the Sharks reach the Stanley Cup Final in 2015-16, losing to the Pittsburgh Penguins in six games. Burns is regarded as one of the best offensive defenseman in this era. He has 777 career points (227 goals, 550 assists) over 1,251 games in his 18-year career.
Carolina has cap space to play around with and doesn’t really need to sign any free agents or RFAs to contracts this offseason. Martin Necas is the only RFA who will need a deal of note. So the ‘Canes are in a good spot to add an impact player via trade. Burns would be a solid addition after the Hurricanes lost D Dougie Hamilton via free agency a few offseasons ago. Burns immediately upgrades the Hurricanes power play, which ranked 13th in the NHL in 2021-22.