Welcome to the fourth part of a series on who wore each number best for the Penguins.
The idea is being openly borrowed from our new hockey writer, Cody Tucker, and his project at the Lansing State Journal covering all the uniform numbers worn through Michigan State football history, one that's been well received by their readers and prompted heavy discussion and debate.
Under the organization of Taylor Haase, and following the voting of a big chunk of our staff, we'll publish one new one each day until completion, which should be right around the start of training camp.
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Name: Dave Burrows
Number: 4
Position: Defense
Born: Jan. 11, 1949 in Toronto
Seasons with Penguins: 1971-78, 1980-81
Statistics with Penguins: 573 games, 24 goals, 108 assists in regular season, 20 games, 1 goal, 3 assists in playoffs
WHY BURROWS?
Burrows is one of the best defensive defensemen in the Penguins' 51-year history, if not the best.
He came to Pittsburgh from Chicago in the 1971 intraleague draft, and was mentored by Tim Horton, his childhood hero. Burrows became a mainstay on the Penguin blue line, known more for blocking shots and breaking up plays than being excessively physical. He was an exceptional skater.
Burrows was the Penguins' 1971-72 Rookie of the Year, he was the team MVP in 1972-73, he finished tenth in Hart Trophy voting in 1975-76 despite accumulating all of 29 points during the season, and he played in the 1974 and '76 All-Star Games.
In June 1978, he was traded to his hometown Maple Leafs for George Ferguson and Randy Carlyle. Ferguson was a very useful forward for the Penguins, while Carlyle would go on to win their only Norris Trophy in 1980-81. In November 1980, Burrows was traded back to the Penguins along with Paul Gardner for Kim Davis and Paul Marshall, neither of whom was more than a marginal NHLer. He retired after the 1980-81 season.
He was officially named to the Penguins' All-Time Team.
WHAT'S HE DOING NOW?
Burrows, 69, lived and worked at the Caledon (Ontario) Teen Ranch, a Christian camp for youngsters (age 10 and older) about 30 miles north of Toronto. His title was hockey director, but he also supervised maintenance.
IT WAS SPOKEN
"In all the years I played with him, I only ever saw one player beat him one-on-one. Guy Lafleur. Nobody else. And Lafleur only did it once. Dave was that good at taking the man." - Rick Kehoe on Burrows
HONORABLE MENTIONS AT NO. 4:
Kevin Hatcher
Rob Scuderi
Justin Schultz
ANY DEBATE?
Not among people who actually remember Burrows.
Tomorrow: Taylor Haase has No. 5
Yesterday: Olli Maatta
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