Defenceman Stephen Burns has become the second Hull Stingrays player this summer to quit the club halfway through a two year deal, following in the footsteps of former player-assistant coach Curtis Huppe in leaving the club with a year still left to tick on his contract.
A Stingrays statement read:
"Stephen Burns earlier today gave us notice of his intention not to return to the club and complete his two-year contract. We are disappointed by his decision but the club will move swiftly to identify a suitable replacement."
Burns, 25, was named Stingrays Defenceman of the Year at the end of season awards dinner and was a big hit with the clubs fanbase in both senses of the word. However, while his hard working, physical and entertaining style of defence won him many fans, others were of the belief that this physicality cost the team on a regular basis.
The termination of his contract, three months after the end of the last season and one month ahead of the new season, ultimately hurts the team both on the ice and financially. For a club running such a tight ship next season, his decision, if not for health or family reasons, and the timing of the move, on first glance, appears to be incredibly selfish. Of course, there are always two sides to a story
Criticisms aside, it was clear why Burns was handed a two-year deal in the first place, just disappointing that a player that had thoroughly impressed chose to end his stay in Hull on such poor terms and a full three months after the season ended.
Coach Cloutier is now forced to scramble for a replacement defencemen with just four weeks until the hard slog begins again. While it would make more sense, give the clubs record with injuries, to go with six man blueline, he is expected to persevere with just five and sign just one replacement D, and not two, in place of Burns.
