There’s little doubt that Dustin Byfuglien has been the MVP for the Winnipeg Jets this season. Not to discount the excellent season Bryan Little is having, but “Big Buff” has been the engine that has driven the Jets in 2014-15.
The Roseau, Minnesota native started the season as a third line forward, but injuries to the Jets blue line forced Jets head coach Paul Maurice to move Byfuglien to defence.
This wasn’t new to Byfuglien. He was drafted as a defenceman by the Chicago Blackhawks after a stellar junior career with the Prince George Cougars of the WHL. The Blackhawks moved him to forward where he played a vital role in Chicago’s 2010 Stanley Cup victory.
When Byfuglien was traded to the Atlanta Thrashers in 2010, he was moved back to the blue line by then head coach Craig Ramsey. Byfuglien went on to score 20 goals that season, a franchise record for goals by a defenceman.
When the franchise relocated to Winnipeg in 2011, Byfuglien remained on defence, but was moved to forward in a desperate move to save then head coach Claude Noel’s job. It didn’t work out for Noel, but Maurice took over and left Byfuglien at right wing.
Byfuglien wasn’t happy as he told reporters at the end of the season that he hoped to start the season at defense, but would do what was asked of him. His time came when four d-men went down with injury in December. Maurice moved Byfuglien back to defence where he developed into a force of nature.
Byfuglien’s 6-5, 260-pound frame was used to smash and pulverize any unfortunate forward, who dared cross the blue line. But it wasn’t just his physicality that made the difference. He showed intelligence on the back end, making the proper outlet pass to get the puck out of the zone, or joining the rush for a scoring opportunity.
Then came the injury.
