It has been 25 years since the Avalanche famously traded for a 40-year-old future Hall of Fame defenseman, and Ray Bourque made his final wish come true with Colorado the following season. Chasing a championship is a big part of why Burns wants to keep playing, but it goes beyond that as well.

Burns signed a one-year contract to join the Colorado Avalanche in free agency, the team announced Wednesday. Burns spent the last three seasons with the Carolina Hurricanes. He hit free agency when the eight-year, $8 million AAV deal he signed with the San Jose Sharks in 2016 expired following his 2024-25 campaign with the Canes.