At the age of 39 years old and entering the final year of his contract the career of Brent Burns could be winding down. We examine if Burns could be headed to the Hall of Fame when his playing days are over

The larger than life Brent Burns entered the NHL way back when in 2003-2004 with the Minnesota Wild as a forward. Fast forward 21 years later to today, the 39-year old Burns now a defensemen, could be close to finishing his career as he enters the final year of his contract.

Brent Burns was drafted by the Minnesota Wild with the 20th overall pick back in the 2003 NHL draft. Burns had mostly played right wing for the Brampton Battalion in the OHL but when he entered the NHL with the Wild for the 2003-2004 season,  then head coach of the Wild Jacques Lemaire, moved Burns to defense.

Burns would go on to play 7 seasons in Minnesota before being traded to the San Jose Sharks in the summer of 2011 in exchange for Devin Setoguchi, Charlie Coyle and a 1st rd pick in that summers draft.
In the 2012-2013 season, Burns was moved back to forward late in the season where he remained. During that summer, the Sharks brass decided Burns would move back to defense, where he's remained since. 

Since Burns became a permanent defensemen in San Jose a decade ago, he has been amongst the leagues' top defenders. It was during the 2013-2014 season when Burns reached the 20 goal mark for the first time when he finished the year with 22 goals and a career high at the time with 48 points. 

Now with the Carolina Hurricanes and entering the final year of his contract, the debate is will Brent Burns one day get into the Hall of Fame?

Over the last ten seasons amongst defensemen, Burns ranks 1st in games played(782), tied for 1st in goals(158), 4th in assists(435) and 2nd in points(593). Burns also captured a Norris Trophy during that span, winning the prestigious award in the 2016-2017 season while still with the San Jose Sharks. During that season, Burns scored a career high of 29 goals, falling just one goal shy of 30 and joining Bobby Orr, Denis Potvin, Doug Wilson, Phil Housley, Paul Coffey, Ray Bourque, Kevin Hatcher and Mike Green to achieve that feat. 

While Burns lone Norris win came during that 16-17 season, Burns had the best season of his career in the 2018-2019 season when scored 83 points, becoming only the 24th NHL defenseman to score 80+ points in a season. 

So far to date in his career, Burns has played in 1,415 career games, adding 255 goals, 626 assists and 881 points. 

Burns' 881 points rank 14th all time by a defenseman. Last season for the Hurricanes, Burns scored 43 points. If Burns were to at least score 40 points again this coming season, it would move him up to 11th on the list, passing names such as Brad Park, Scott Stevens and Bobby Orr. 

In terms of goals, Burns ranks 9th, trailing only Ray Bourque, Paul Coffey, Al MacInnis, Phil Housley, Denis Potvin, Larry Murphy, Bobby Orr and Niklas Lidstrom. 

While we don't know if Burns will continue his career after his contract expires this summer, but if Burns goes on to play a couple of more seasons into his 40's, he could likely finish in the top 5 of some major statistical categories amongst defenseman, ands certainly top 10. 

Given where Burns currently falls on the all-time stats amongst defensemen and where he could wind up once he finishes his storied career, there is a very good chance the bearded wonder gets enshrined in the Hockey Hall of Fame.