San Jose Sharks - Fantasy News

Brent Burns NHL Fantasy Advice

by Jeff Gordon

1/19/18

NHL

San Jose Sharks

Brent Burns

For the bulk of last season, San Jose Sharks defenseman Brent Burns scored like a high-end forward.

He produced 70 points in the Sharks first 66 games. But then he suffered a reality check that extended well into this season.

Burns scored just six points in San Jose's final 16 games last year. And during a span of 36 regular season and playoff games — extending into the 2017-18 campaign — Burns scored just 16 points, 14 of them assists.

After finishing last season with 29 goals, Burns scored just seven in his first 43 games this year.

He was especially disappointing during the season’s first two months. Back in October he produced no goals, seven assists and a minus-8 rating in 11 games. The next month he had just four points (one goal, three assists) and a plus-2 rating in 12 contests.

Earlier this season Sharks head coach Peter DeBoer noted that offensive defensemen Erik Karlsson and Dustin Byfuglien also struggled out of the gate for Ottawa and Winnipeg, respectively.

“I haven’t overreacted to this. It hasn’t been a story, as much as a story in my mind as you guys,” DeBoer told reporters in November. “I look at the other side. Byfuglien doesn’t have a goal, Karlsson has one. Those guys you measure — are they getting looks, are they getting chances? It’s like anybody that scores. Eventually the odds are going to go your way and they’re going to go in.

“A lot of those guys are streaky and a lot of times, once you get one, the floodgates do open. Now will they? I don’t know. That’s not a predictor. But I like (Burns’) game and I’m not worried about it.”

Indeed, Burns finally did pick up his pace. He produced 14 points (five goals, nine assists) in 13 games in December, albeit with a minus-10 rating. He had nine points (one goal, eight assists) in his first seven January efforts.

"Puck luck’s going to take over," DeBoer said recently. "Every shot he takes has got some zip on it. It has a chance to go in. It’s not an easy save no matter what. Those eventually are going to find some holes.”

He is benefiting from running the Sharks power play, which ranked fifth after 43 games with a 23.1 percent conversion rate. On the other hand, Burns has produced poor defensive metrics this season despite sheltered usage from DeBoer at even strength.

Just past the season's halfway point, the Sharks were outscored 38-17 in five-on-five play when Burns was on the ice. Ouch!

But his hits rate (54 in 43 games) was up over last season, as was his takeaway rate (54 in 43), so his peripheral statistics were not terrible.

His Projected Fantasy Points mark has been as high as 10.5 on several occasions this season. But dating back to December 7, he topped his PFP 12 times during a span of 17 games on his Dober Fantasy Card.

The offensive slump that started last season and carried into this one has ended. Burns is once again a good bet to start in the daily game.