Burns on pace to hit illustrious 30-goal mark

Brent Burns is a wizard, but you knew that, just look at that beard.

All joking aside, the San Jose Sharks defenseman has quickly staked his name as one of the premiere blue-liners in the league, and this season he is on pace to hit a milestone that very few in his position have ever eclipsed.

With 15 goals in 40 games, Burns is on pace to hit 30 goals this season, a mark that is nearly unheard of for a defenseman.

Just how rare is the feat? Well, in the history of the league the 30-goal mark has only been achieved by defenders on 18 occasions and by only nine different individuals: Bobby Orr, Paul Coffey, Dit Clapper, Doug Wilson, Kevin Hatcher, Ray Bourque, Mike Green, Phil Housely, and Denis Potvin.

Green was the latest player to tally 30 when he netted 31 during the 2008-09 season as a member of the Washington Capitals and before him was Hatcher, who did so in 1993.

So, if Burns is able to keep the same pace, or even accelerate it, he could join some elite company. Of course, this isn't exactly unprecedented for the 31-year-old, given that the next highest single-season total in goals by a defenseman since Green's 30 was posted by Burns last season when he scored 27.