Avs 41-year-old defenseman Brent Burns trimmed the beard, not the ambition, as he enters 23rd season

Englewood, Colo. (AP) — Brent Burns, the 41-year-old Colorado Avalanche defenseman, has trimmed his beard but not his ambition as he enters his 23rd season in the NHL. The famed bushy beard and well-groomed hair of the player are a sight to behold. When he smiles, you can notice the gleaming front teeth in the gap where he once had none.

Burns has been a colorful character in the league, known for his ability to stay young at heart. Teammate Brock Nelson describes Burns as an 18- or 19-year-old kid who always seems to be having fun. His family hosted a young forward from the University of Michigan this summer, T.J. Hughes, who stayed with the Burns family instead of living out of a suitcase at a hotel.

Burns' superpower, according to Nelson, is his ability to stay young at heart and enjoy the grind of a long season. The Colorado Avalanche player has played in 1,007 straight regular-season games and is 57 away from tying the mark of Phil Kessel. While Burns doesn't focus on breaking the league's all-time ironman streak, he remains determined to stay in the lineup and contribute to the team's success.