San Jose Sharks forward grades for midway point of season
October 19, 2013; San Jose, CA, USA; San Jose Sharks right wing Brent Burns (88) controls the puck against the Calgary Flames during the second period at SAP Center at San Jose. The Sharks defeated the Flames 6-3. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
Stats:
| Brent Burns | GP | G | A | P | Sh% | Corsi for % | Corsi For % rel | PDO | Pen+/- | TOI/60 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | 26 | 12 | 11 | 23 | 13.3% | 62.8% | 9.4% | 104.2 | -2 | 15.7 min |
PDO is save% + sh%, pen+/- is (penalties drawn – penalties taken), and to understand Corsi, corsi rel, corsi for % read this article. CF% and CF% rel are taken when the game is 5v5 close (within one or 2 in first period, tied in third).
Brent Burns, the product of a genius coaching move by Todd McLellan last year, has been exceptional at forward so far this year. Up until October 19th, when Burns sustained an upper body injury that ended up sidelining him for 13 games, the Sharks were rolling offensively and went 7-0-1 with Burns in the lineup. After his injury, the Sharks went 6-3-4 and dropped in the standings noticeably. From these numbers alone, it’s clear that Burns presence in the lineup positively affects the Sharks, noticeably.
If you aren’t convinced with Burns’ effectiveness on offense, just look at his corsi numbers. His CF% is a whopping 62.8% which is 3rd best in the league among players that have played more than 21 games. He is way ahead of guys like, Marian Hossa, Jonathan Toews, Jeff Carter, Justin Williams, Henrik Sedin, Daniel Sedin, and teammate, Joe Thornton. Those are all guys that are crucial pieces to their respective team’s success. Brent Burns has been one of those for a while now, and it was confirmed again by his 1st career hat-trick against the St. Louis Blues.
Not only is he dangerous offensively, but he is also one of the hardest hitting guys in the Sharks’ lineup. After his hat-trick, Burns went 8 games without scoring a goal, if not for that, he would have a solid A.
Grade: Very high A-