20 hockey smiles that prove teeth are overrated

3. Brent Burns

Everyone’s favorite bearded, toothless defenseman is right near the top of the list of hockey smiles. San Jose Shark Brent Burns is one of, if not the, NHL’s top defenseman. Among all of the tangible qualities needed to be as good as he is, he also has the smile required to be a hockey great.

No one can seem to pin point the exact time Burns lost his Chiclets. Perhaps it was a bout with scurvy while he was sailing the seas as a pirate, or maybe he lost them chewing down trees to build himself a shelter deep in the woods during his time living in the wild. No one really knows for sure, just like no one really knows what Burns’ face looks like.

What we do know is that Burns can play hockey. He’s compiled more than 60 points in his last four seasons and shows no sign of slowing down. Burns maintains this while generally being one of the most liked hockey players in the NHL, despite playing in a cursed city that rarely ever makes it out of the first round of the playoffs.

Burns’ smile adds to his overall look. When you are trying to pull off the crazed bush man/pirate/yeti, you need to be short few teeth. If Burns wasn’t one of the most famous hockey players on earth, he’d be scaring away the same kids he currently signs autographs for. Thankfully, he’s pretty damn good at hockey.