San Jose Sharks: Brent Burns To Move Back to Defense

The San Jose Sharks are beginning to make roster realignments after a brutal ending to the season. One of which is being rumored that Brent Burns will move back to defense.

Burns was originally drafted to the Sharks as a defenseman and moved to forward last season. Overall playing well as a forward, Burns could never quite keep his games consistent. At one point in the season, he even went 19 games without a goal.

He was acquired as a defenseman. When you take a look at that type of dynamic on the back end, guys that move the puck up, shoot the puck on the power play, it creates a tough match up. And the size (6-foot-5, 230 pounds) and physicality that he brings. When he was originally moved up to forward, it was because of an injury. He was coming back and he was having trouble with certain parts of his skating.To me, our commitment and our need is him back as a defenseman.

It is being rumored that Burns will replace Boyle on the defensive line after another announcement was made that the Sharks will not re-sign veteran defenseman Dan Boyle.

The lack of defense throughout the playoff games against Los Angeles was very apparent. Having such talent on the line could be all the difference.

Listen to Doug Wilson’s audio talking about changes in the roster here.