With more and more stories coming out recently about Dustin Byfuglien's potential contract termination with the Winnipeg Jets, many former teammates are being asked their thoughts on the situation. So far, it seems as though players have different thoughts. Patrik Laine, for example, seemed to think Byfuglien handcuffed the Jets and could have went about the situation better. Jets captain Blake Wheeler, who was teammates with Byfuglien for nine seasons, came to Byfuglien's defence when asked about the situation yesterday.
“I've been adamant over my time in Winnipeg that I wouldn't trade Buff for anyone in the league, and I meant that,” said Wheeler. “So obviously a depleted blueline coming into the season, and then you lose your best guy. Selfishly, it hurts. But you've got to be respectful of a guy. Especially a guy that's brought it like he has for so long, and everything he's done for us. That was his decision to make.”
This is a pretty classy response from Wheeler. Byfuglien sitting out really hurt the Jets this year, as they were still on the hook for his $7.6 million contract and therefore weren't able to use that money to sign other players. Losing Byfuglien itself has hurt too, as year in and year out he was one of the better defenceman, and unanimously the toughest, in the NHL.
Wheeler also added he understands where fans are coming from with their frustration, but reminds them of how much Byfuglien contributed to the team for many years.
“I don't think it that makes him a villain,” Wheeler told the media. “It might have set this team back a little bit this year and put us in a tough spot, there's no question there. I think overall people will get to that point… maybe the bad taste of that goes away, people will wake up and say ‘Man, Buff was one of the great ones for this organization.'”
Last season, Byfuglien put up 31 points in just 42 regular season games along with eight points in six playoff games, contributions which the Jets are in big time need of right now. Even though they only sit one point out of the final wildcard spot, they have struggled significantly lately, going just 3-6-1 over their last 10 games. This is in large part due to their blueline, which on top of losing Byfuglien, also lost Tyler Myers and Ben Ben Chiarot via free agency. As much as Jets fans wanted to believe Byfuglien may return sometime soon, that ship seems to have sailed. Byfuglien could appear in the NHL again at some point, but his career as a Jet is likely over.
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