I have wondered about a Burns trade for a while, and must admit it is very tough to find a fit. He only has a 3 team trade list, I think DAL would be top of the list but they have no need for him. WPG has the need and the chance to win which I think would appeal to Burns.

The question you're asking is why would Burns waive for Winnipeg? Well if anything, Burns is a free spirit, and I would imagine a bit unpredictable. I think at the end of the day, Burns would see he's closer to the end of his career than the start and wants to chase that cup. SJ is in need of a retool and is floating away from contention.

For WPG- before the Jets fans get concerned about Burns age and contract, the Jets are paying Wheeler more until about the same age as the end of the Burns deal. Another thing I would point out is, Burns had 45 points, which is a down season for him and he was on one of the worst teams in the league, Pietrangelo who may be a target for the Jets had a career year with 52 points but he played on one of the leagues best teams. On the Jets top PP unit, Burns returns to a 70pt defender. He also gets to play with the ideal partner in Morrissey.

For SJ- they are badly in need of a retool, this deal allows them to essentially have 3 1sts. With a mid 1st, late 1st and very early 2nd. A Burns trade opens up the door for the Sharks young stud prospect Merkley as well. I am unsure on the status of Bryan Little, but if he is unable to play, the Sharks can LTIR him, giving them cap space they can weaponize and potentially acquire more picks or young players. Appleton is too good for the AHL and would benefit from an increased role in SJ