Veteran defenseman Dustin Byfuglien and Winnipeg Jets are going their separate ways. The two sides agreed to a contract termination over the week, ending Byfuglien’s time with the organization one year earlier than scheduled.
Byfuglien hasn’t played for the Jets at all this season, taking a leave of absence in September. The 35-year-old reportedly didn’t have the intention to report by the end of 2019/20 and is considering retirement.
Byfuglien has been a member of the Jets’ organization since 2010 and has played a total of 636 games for the organization contributing 441 points in the process.
“He’s got unique abilities,” said Jets general manager Kevin Chevelday off Byfuglien. “It was interesting knowing him over the years and seeing the evolution of his game and understanding that there’s players that have natural ability and natural grace, and that was Byfuglien. To see him on the ice and move around as he did and easy as he could and the skills he had, it’s an interesting one. It shows his hockey sense and ability to adapt.”
Dustin Byfuglien made his NHL debut in 2005 with the Chicago Blackhawks. He spent a total of five seasons in Chicago and helped the team win a Stanley Cup.
In 2010, Blackhawks traded Byfuglien to the Jets (then called Atlanta Trashers), where he established himself as an All-Star player, earning four nods between 2011 and 2016.
Byfuglien played a total of 935 games in NHL, scoring 198 goals and dishing 377 assists for a total of 575 points.
