Making himself at home with Carolina Hurricanes, Brent Burns set for return to San Jose

It’s not as if Brent Burns hasn’t been through it before.

The Carolina Hurricanes defenseman was drafted by the Minnesota Wild in 2003 and played parts of his first seven NHL seasons with the Wild before being traded to the San Jose Sharks in 2011.

“I went back to Minnesota for a game for the first time and it was weird,” Burns said recently. “Still is a little weird when I go back. But still a game to be played.”

Burns’ first return to Minnesota came in January 2012 and the Sharks lost in a shootout. For the record, Burns assisted on a late Logan Couture goal as San Jose scored twice in the final three minutes of regulation to force overtime.

But going back to San Jose, where the Hurricanes will begin a five-game road trip Friday, might be a bit more emotional for the big D-man. Burns, 37, spent 11 seasons with the Sharks before the July 13 trade to the Hurricanes.

There are several tributes planned for Burns in San Jose, including a video to be shown on the big board at the SAP Center. That’s understandable for a man who won a Norris Trophy with the Sharks, that helped them reach the Stanley Cup Finals in 2016.

But, in truth, Burns would rather talk more about his new team than his old team. Did he leave behind some close friends in San Jose? Yes. Is he making some new ones in Raleigh? Yes.

“It’s a group that enjoys the work,” Burns said. “It’s contagious to see, before a skate, after skate, guys doing things all the time. It’s fun as an older guy to see that. The younger generation of guys are just different athletes. They really take care of themselves. It’s just fun to be around them.”

Not long after the trade, Burns said he drove his Renegade RV to North Carolina and moved into an RV park for a month before moving his family into a new house.

“It’s great. I loved it,” he said. “Got to know one of the neighbors there at the RV park. But I had my parents there, too, and when we first got here it was just crazy. I was driving a lot for my kids’ sports and school stuff, too. We were pretty busy.

“When I wasn’t doing something I was probably snoozing.”

Burns said that with the gap-toothed smile that is as big a part of his persona as his long beard.

During the Hurricanes’ pregame introductions Wednesday at PNC Arena before the opener against Columbus, Burns was one of the first players introduced — he wears No. 8 for the Canes — and got a big hand.

“He’s been great from day one,” Canes coach Rod Brind’Amour said during training camp. “He works hard. We know he’s a good person, but the way he plays he fits our system really well.”

Burns joined Jaccob Slavin in the top defensive pairing Wednesday and ran the Canes’ No. 1 power-play unit in the opener. He didn’t have a point in the Canes’ 4-1 victory over the Blue Jackets but got off 13 shots attempts and put six on net, playing 22:33 of ice time.

Burns protected the net well. He once shoved the Blue Jackets’ Boone Jenner away from goalie Frederik Andersen after a scramble in the crease, the 6-foot-5, 230-pound D-man landing on top of Jenner.

“He was letting ‘em know not to get too close,” Andersen said.

A native of Barrie, Ontario, Burns has a ranch in Texas and has raised exotic animals. Some of his former Sharks teammates gave him a pair of antelope after he played his 1,000th career game.

But Burns has quickly made himself and his family at home in North Carolina. He has yet to say “y’all,” at least around the media, but has nothing but good things to say about the area.

“It’s been awesome,” he said. “Amazing city. Lots of wildlife. The trees, I love. I love that it’s getting a little cooler, too. It’s beautiful in the mornings. The sunsets have been incredible.

“It’s been a beautiful place and the people … it’s just been nice getting around and meeting people from the school or sports. It’s been a great community, so welcoming.”

Hurricanes vs. Sharks game and TV info

Who: Carolina Hurricanes (1-0) vs. San Jose Sharks (0-2)

Where: SAP Center, Calif.

When: Friday, 10:30 p.m.

TV: Bally Sports Southeast

Stream: Bally Sports+