Few defensemen in modern NHL history turned raw size and a wild man-bun beard into both a Norris Trophy and a nine-figure fortune like Brent Burns.
After 22 seasons, more than 1,500 games, and over $108 million in salary, the Colorado Avalanche blueliner is still chasing the one prize that has eluded him: the Stanley Cup.
Here is a complete look at his net worth, contract, and lifetime earnings.
Brent Burns’ Biography
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | William Brent Burns |
| Date of Birth | March 9, 1985 |
| Age | 40 (turns 41 in March) |
| Nationality | Canadian |
| Birthplace | Barrie, Ontario, Canada |
| Height / Weight | 6’5″ / 228 lbs |
| Position | Defenseman |
| Current NHL Team | Colorado Avalanche |
| NHL Draft | 2003, Round 1, 20th overall (Minnesota Wild) |
| Years Active | 2003 – present |
| Net Worth | ~$109 million (estimated) |
| Career Earnings | $108.09 million (gross NHL salary) |
| Wife | Susan Holder (m. 2009) |
| Children | Peyton, Jagger, and a younger daughter |
| Major Award | James Norris Memorial Trophy (2016-17) |
Early Life and Hockey Journey
William Brent Burns was born on March 9, 1985, in Barrie, Ontario, to parents Robert and Gaby Burns.
He grew up immersed in hockey culture, played for the Ontario Minor Hockey Association’s Barrie Iceman and Ajax Knights, and later suited up for the Greater Toronto Hockey League’s North York Canadiens.
His major-junior breakthrough came with the Brampton Battalion of the Ontario Hockey League, where he played as a right winger before scouts noticed his rare size-and-skill combination.
He briefly attended Sam Houston State University, where he met his future wife, Susan Holder.
The Minnesota Wild selected Burns 20th overall in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft. He made his NHL debut on October 8, 2003, and scored his first NHL goal in his third game, kicking off one of the longest active careers in the league.
A detail many fans still find surprising is that he was originally drafted as a forward. He converted to defense in the pros, a move that ultimately reshaped his earnings ceiling — a path documented in similar NHL defenseman net worth breakdowns across the league.
Career
Burns played his first eight seasons with the Minnesota Wild before a 2011 trade sent him to the San Jose Sharks.
In San Jose, he transformed from a hybrid forward-defenseman into one of the most feared offensive blueliners in the league.
According to the Colorado Avalanche’s official announcement, he has logged 910 points (261 goals and 649 assists) across 1,497 regular-season games with the Wild, Sharks, and Hurricanes from 2003 through 2025 — the eighth-most all-time by a defenseman.
He surpassed the 1,500-game mark during the 2025-26 season with Colorado.
His signature achievement came in 2016-17, when he posted 76 points and captured the James Norris Memorial Trophy as the NHL’s top defenseman. He is also a six-time NHL All-Star with a career-high 83 points during the 2018-19 season.
After three productive seasons in Carolina, Burns signed with Colorado in July 2025. As The Hockey News reported, the move places him alongside two-time Norris winner Cale Makar on a roster built to chase a championship.
Internationally, he won gold with Team Canada at the 2015 IIHF World Championship and the 2016 World Cup of Hockey. He also has two World Championship silver medals.
Wife
Burns married his longtime girlfriend Susan Holder in July 2009 after the couple met at Sam Houston State University.
Susan keeps a relatively low public profile and is often referred to in fan circles as part of the “Lady Sharks” group from his San Jose days.
The couple has three children: daughter Peyton Gabriann (born March 2010), son Jagger Stephen Patrick (born June 2011), and a younger daughter.
The family is famously fond of animals and has maintained a private menagerie nicknamed the “Burns Zoo,” featured on CBC’s Hockey Night in Canada.
Brent Burns’ Net Worth Details
As of 2026, Brent Burns has an estimated net worth of $109 million.
The figure is built almost entirely on his NHL contracts, with additional contributions from endorsements, personal investments, and long-term financial planning across more than two decades in the league.
Contract
Burns signed a 1-year, $1 million contract with the Colorado Avalanche on July 2, 2025. The deal expires at the end of the 2025-26 season, making him an unrestricted free agent in the summer of 2026.
According to Puckpedia’s contract details, the agreement carries a $1 million cap hit with no signing bonus. NHL insider Elliotte Friedman reported that Burns can earn up to $3 million more in games-played bonuses on top of the base salary.
The contract is a steep discount from his previous deal — an 8-year, $64 million extension signed with the San Jose Sharks that ran through the 2024-25 season at an average annual value of $8 million.
The Sharks retained 34% of that contract’s cap hit when they traded him to Carolina in 2022.
Salary
Burns’ base salary for the 2025-26 season is $1 million, with up to $3 million more available through games-played bonuses. That is well below his earlier peak.
His highest-paid stretch came during his 8-year, $8 million-per-year extension in San Jose, which was, at signing, one of the largest deals ever handed to an NHL defenseman.
Earlier, a 5-year, $28.8 million extension ($5.76 million AAV) bridged his transition from Minnesota to San Jose, according to Spotrac’s contract archive.
Career Earnings By Contract
| Period | Team(s) | Contract | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 – 2016 | Minnesota / San Jose | 5 years, $28.8M | $5.76M |
| 2017 – 2025 | San Jose / Carolina | 8 years, $64M | $8.0M |
| 2025 – 2026 | Colorado Avalanche | 1 year, $1M (+$3M bonuses) | $1.0M base |
| Career Total (gross) | — | — | $108.09M |
Career Statistics
| Career Total (Regular Season) | Stat |
|---|---|
| Seasons Played | 22 |
| Games Played | 1,500+ |
| Goals | 261+ |
| Assists | 649+ |
| Points | 910+ |
| Norris Trophies | 1 (2016-17) |
| NHL All-Star Selections | 6 |
| Consecutive Games Streak | 925+ (4th all-time) |
FAQs
What is Brent Burns’ net worth?
Brent Burns has an estimated net worth of around $109 million. The figure is supported by Puckpedia and HockeyZonePlus tracking data and is built primarily on his $108 million in lifetime NHL salary.
How much does Brent Burns earn per year?
Burns earns a $1 million base salary in 2025-26 with the Colorado Avalanche. He can also unlock up to $3 million in additional games-played bonuses, a sharp drop from his previous $8 million annual salary with San Jose and Carolina.
What was Brent Burns’ biggest NHL contract?
His biggest contract was an 8-year, $64 million extension signed with the San Jose Sharks. The deal carried an $8 million average annual value and ran through the 2024-25 season before he hit free agency in 2025.
Has Brent Burns won a Stanley Cup?
Burns has not won a Stanley Cup despite playing over 1,500 NHL games. He reached the Stanley Cup Final once with the San Jose Sharks in 2016 and signed with Colorado in 2025 specifically to chase his first championship.
How many career points does Brent Burns have?
Burns has more than 910 career regular-season points, including 261-plus goals and 649-plus assists. That total places him among the top-10 highest-scoring defensemen in NHL history.
