Sharks’ Burns misses his bearded buddy
Brent Burns knows it has to be serious if Joe Thornton is going to miss a game.
“He’s extremely tough,” the San Jose defenceman said of his longtime teammate and friend. “I don’t know if he feels pain like a normal human being. For him to miss stuff, it tell you how bad it is.”
Thornton missed Friday’s game against the Winnipeg Jets, placed on long-term injured reserve after suffering a rib fracture Wednesday. He’ll be out a least a month. He’s been remarkable durable over 22-plus seasons, missing a mere 101 games of a possible 1,743.
“His mindset is he’s going to play every game, no matter what happens,” Burns told the Star.
For the Leafs, it means an opportunity for others to play. Alexander Barabanov, Pierre Engvall and Adam Brooks got into Friday’s game thanks to Thornton’s injury, another to Auston Matthews and Mikko Lehtonen getting scratched.
The big shame is the loss of Thornton and the presence that he’s famous for: keeping things light, making things happen.
It won’t be felt on the ice and will be reduced off the ice. His
teammates will really only see him around the training room during home games.
“You’ll lose a little bit of something in practices and games and all of that,” said Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe. “Obviously, his presence and his voice is a big reason why we brought him here.”
Burns says he talks or texts with Thornton almost every day. They miss each other after nine seasons together in San Jose.
“He’s an incredible person and teammate,” said Burns. “He was just so much fun. His work ethic was so contagious that he pushed me to be a better player
and really taught me a lot about how to work and how to be a better player.
“There’s a reason why he is one of the legends of the game.”
In many ways — maybe it was the beards — today’s younger players can credit the combination of Thornton and Burns for the freedom to be themselves, freedom not every hockey player has enjoyed through the years.
“I think it really stems from Jumbo (Thornton) because Jumbo is such a special talent on the ice,” said Burns.
“But he’s also got this incred- ibly boisterous and fun attitude, and the way he looks at life and hockey is so special. He really set the tone here in San Jose, about being yourself and it’s OK to be different and be yourself.”
Burns pointed to players such as P.K. Subban, or those wearing “crazy” hats and suits, or with fun Instagram accounts.
“It helps to have a guy that’s a legit legend of the sport have a huge personality and be a fun guy to be around,” said Burns.
Thornton, of course, won’t be out forever.
“The Leafs are lucky to have him,” said Burns.
“He’ll really help all their players. They’ve got some really special players there, but you’re always learning, you’re always getting better and evolving. Doesn’t matter how old you are. So for those players that are already very elite on that team, he can make them all better.”
It was suggested to Burns that one of the shames of a season without fans is that Thornton, who signed a one-year deal, can’t hear the crowd respond to his name when it’s in the opening lineup. Burns said there’s always next year.
“A guy like him, I don’t know if he ever will stop playing.”