Brent Burns is now the highest-paid player on San Jose's roster.
The Sharks on Tuesday signed their top defenseman to an eight-year contract that will keep him in San Jose through 2024-25 season, the team announced.
Burns was set to become an unrestricted free agent at the end of this season. While the financial details were not disclosed, ESPN reported the extension is worth $64 million. With an average annual value of $8 million, the deal will make Burns the second-highest-paid defenseman in the league behind Nashville Predators blueliner P.K. Subban, who earns $9 million per season.
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"This is a great group and we had a special year [in 2015-16] and it's exciting to build on that," Burns told the Sharks' website. "This is a great place to come and play, and when you're having fun it's easier to work. I don't even think of it as coming to work; the people here are great and they love their Sharks. We had a taste of last year and now you just want to win, so it's exciting."
Burns, 31, has recorded seven goals and nine assists in 19 games this season. He boasts 148 goals and 291 assists in 816 career games over 12 seasons with the Sharks and Minnesota Wild. An Ontario native, the three-time All Star also won the World Cup of Hockey 2016 and IIHF 2016 World Championship as a member of Team Canada.