Breaking: Another update in the Byfuglien situation with Jets

First the surgery, now this. It's not looking good, Jets fans.

HockeyFeed
HockeyFeed
Published 4 years ago
Breaking: Another update in the Byfuglien situation with Jets
Zuma Press

In case you missed the news last night, Winnipeg Jets defenseman Dustin Byfugllien, who has been suspended by his team for failing to report, has undergone ankle surgery to “take care of” unresolved issues from an ankle sprain that he suffered last season.

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Suffice it to say, it does NOT look like Byfuglien will be back in the Jets’ lineup anytime soon. In fact, TSN insider Darren Dreger reports that recovery from the ankle surgery could take as long as four months.

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In a recent 31 Thoughts column for Sportsnet, NHL insider Elliotte Friedman offered up another update on the Byfuglien via Byfuglien’s agent Ben Hankinson.

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Ben Hankinson, who represents Dustin Byfuglien, warns “not to jump to any conclusions” about the defence man’s future. I’ve heard the Jets have to work to convince Byfuglien to return, but Hankinson said this is going to take some time before we know one way or the other. Winnipeg is clearly hoping he gets bitten by the hockey bug and decides to return. The health of his ankle likely determines all of this. 

Interesting. Particularly the part about the Jets having to “work to convince Byfuglien to return.” You’d think that Byfuglien’s $7.6 million annual contract would provide him with enough incentive to return, but apparently it’s on the Jets to convince the veteran to make good on his contract. 

Now, we've learned that Byfuglien is fighting through a debilitating ankle injury. So... which is it? Does Big Buff want to play, but can't? Or does he truly want to hang them up? Like McKenzie says... only one man can answer that and so far, he ain't talking. All we can do is speculate at this point.

For what it's worth, Byfuglien put up an impressive four goals and 31 points in just 42 games with the Jets last season. If this is indeed the end of Byfuglien's NHL career, he'll finish off with 177 goals and 525 points in 869 career NHL games.