There was a strange sight at San Jose Sharks practice over the last two days -- former All-Star defenseman Brent Burns skating up front.
As a forward.
A winger, to be specific.
The experiment began on Monday, first noticed and followed up on by David Pollak of the Mercury News:Burns practicing as forward? #SJSharks McLellan says it takes more energy to practice at that position than d-man and Burns getting close.
— David Pollak (@PollakOnSharks) March 11, 2013
A reasonable explanation. Burns has been out of the San Jose lineup since Feb. 23 after suffering an undisclosed injury in the first period of a 3-1 loss in Dallas.
Given the rigors of a shortened season, practices are few and far between, so it makes sense the best way to get Burns back into shape was to skate him as a forward.
But then, on Tuesday, the intrigue heightened -- Burns took line rushes with Scott Gomez and James Sheppard.
More, from Pollak:Burns taking line rushes at wing today w/Gomez and Sheppard? #SJSharks trying something new???
— David Pollak (@PollakOnSharks) March 12, 2013
Reminder that Burns started out as forward in MIN org - and that’s spot where #SJSharks need help most right now. Still ....
— David Pollak (@PollakOnSharks) March 12, 2013
This wouldn’t be the first time Burns has played up front.
He played wing in junior and was routinely used as a forward in Minnesota under then-head coach Jacques Lemaire. Here’s more, from a 2008 piece in the Minnesota Star-Tribune:
Wild coach Jacques Lemaire absolutely loved Burns’ game on the right side of Andrew Brunette and Eric Belanger during Thursday’s 4-0 victory against Phoenix. “He had four chances to score, if not five,” Lemaire said. “He missed the net on four. I know he won’t miss the net every night.
“He has a sense where the puck’s going to go, where to go at the right time to get the puck. That’s what I like about his offense. ... There’s not a lot of guys who are scorers that do that.”
Burns brings energy and intensity, and he flies up and down the ice better than most players. Burns also has a 6-4 frame, so he can bang bodies like a true power forward. Thursday, he registered a game-high five hits on the forecheck.
“Burns, he likes it. He’s excited to play,” Lemaire said.
There’s been no confirmation the Sharks actually intend on using Burns up front, but one final thing to consider -- the Minnesota connection.
During the 2004-05 campaign, Burns was playing for the Wild’s AHL affiliate in Houston, and his head coach at the time?
None other than his current bench boss, Todd McLellan.
UPDATE: Pollak confirms that, assuming Burns gets clearance to play tonight vs. St. Louis (which McLellan thinks he will), Burns will skate with Gomez and Sheppard and get powerplay time on defense.