Concerns regarding the Colorado Avalanche’s team age exist among fans. Sitting at an average age of 29.88 years-old, Brent Burns does not help lower that. At 41, Burns is the league’s oldest player, exceeding Corey Perry and Alexander Ovechkin. Still, the defenseman will enter the 2026–27 season healthy, prepared to compete. Burns has already been in Denver preparing for the long season that lay ahead and what could be his final season.
Last season
As to no surprise, the Barrie, Ontario native played every single game for the Avs last year. He tallied 12 goals and 23 assists during the regular season. It was a season that also marked his 1,500th career game in the NHL (October 11, 2025) against the Dallas Stars. He played through several injuries that we know about, and sometimes they slowed him down a little. The Canadian helped teammates like Sam Malinski and Josh Manson flourish as they broke out of their shells. The Western Conference Finals’ elimination of the Avs led to a disappointing end for the 22-year veteran. Burn fell short of his Stanley Cup dream once again.
Brent Burns is still climbing the ladder 🫡
Congrats to the vet on reaching 1,500 career NHL games played! pic.twitter.com/Eb2JVQAX3X— NHLPA (@NHLPA) October 12, 2025
This summer and what is to come
After slowing down during the playoffs with the injuries, Burns needed some time to rest. He has been skating for a couple of weeks at Family Sports Center and looks healthy now. He is moving with more speed than he did at the end of the season and doing it with more confidence.
Burns and couple of the kids are out on the ice today. Burns' footwork looks a lot smoother than it did at the end of the season. #Avs #GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/xHEEyktx4M
— Hockey Mountain High (@HockeyMtnHighCO) August 11, 2026
If Burns continues to be healthy every game, he could grab another record later in the season. Burns is only 57 games short of tying Phil Kessel’s Iron Man streak of 1,064 games. Assuming that Burns stays on track, he will tie the record on February 13th in Tampa and break the record at home on the 15th against Columbus. It is a record that he has been working on since November 21, 2013, a game that the San Jose Sharks won 5–1 over the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Brent Burns will put his "Ironman" streak on the line when he suits up for the @Avalanche in 2026-27. The 41-year-old defenseman is within striking distance of establishing an NHL record for most consecutive games played. #NHLStats #MilestoneMondays pic.twitter.com/vDQTae9L2W
— NHL Public Relations (@NHLPR) August 11, 2026
The biggest question for the defenseman this season will be: can he stay healthy enough to play? Or will the Avs play him even if he is hurt to keep the streak going? Burns will know his body better than anyone at this point in his career, and I’m sure the last thing he wants to do is hurt his last chance at a Stanley Cup.
