While I posted this earlier on another thread, it seems pertinent here as it pertains to Bret Burns and our game last night. While watching Burns tip away a pass to the back door about half way through the game that would have resulted in a sure slam dunk, I wondered if there recently have been two aging players who have performed better at their stage of their careers with their new teams than Pavelski and Burns?
When San Jose unloaded both of them, I bet few people thought they had this much tread left on their tires. Both have been outstanding in their arrière-careers. Burns was absolutely terrific last night. No defenseman in the league is better at getting his shot through quickly and decisively after getting the puck on the offensive end or at QB’ing the power play either; he killed us with a late tying goal in the concluding game of our playoff series against them last year; but he also still plays amazing defense; like last night - guarding the crease and shutting down our passes and plays to keep us and the puck away from their net. If I’m Carolina right now I think he’s every bit as key to me as Slavin is in making a run in the playoffs.
