Winnipeg Jets: Dustin Byfuglien is the most interesting trade target

As the NHL trade deadline approaches, teams are searching for impact players. Could Winnipeg Jets defenseman Dustin Byfuglien provide that?

Teams are always searching for impact players at the NHL trade deadline. They are very hard to come by, which is why when they are available, they tend to cost quite a bit. There aren’t many impact players available at the 2020 NHL trade deadline, which is on Monday, Feb. 20. That’s why teams should be closely following the saga between the Winnipeg Jets and Dustin Byfuglien.

Currently, Byfuglien is suspended without pay for refusing to report to the Jets. A few weeks ago, it was reported the Jets are moving towards a mutual termination of his contract. This would have allowed Winnipeg to get Byfuglien’s contract off the books. However, according to TSN, the Jets are now exhausting their final option by trying to trade him.

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Byfuglien hasn’t skated since September and is seriously contemplating retirement. For all we know, his mind might already be made up. The chances are quite good that Byfuglien will never play in the NHL again.

However, this makes Byfuglien the quintessential low risk, high reward addition. There are minimal, if any, risks in trading for him. At this point, the Jets would probably take whatever they can get for Byfuglien. A team could probably have him for a seventh-round pick or a depth player.

In a worst-case scenario, you’d just terminate his contract and have it off the books. Let’s be honest, you’re lucky if a seventh-round pick even makes it to the NHL. And even luckier if they wind up being anything more than a depth option. Why not trade one to see if you can convince Byfuglien to play?

As I mentioned earlier, he hasn’t skated since September. But if a team can get him to agree to come back, Byfuglien might have enough gas for one more postseason run. Due to being suspended, his cap hit would be just $1.84 million. If Byfuglien’s even a shadow of his former self, that’s dirt cheap.

His days as a top-pairing defenseman are likely over and he would have just over a month to get himself back into playing shape. However, Byfuglien brings so many elements to the table. He can hit hard, score goals, give a huge boost to any power play, and even kill some penalties for you.

Do I think Byfuglien will play in the NHL again? Probably not. Byfuglien’s ankle injury is significant enough for him to ponder retirement and forfeit at least $5 million (potentially as much as $14 million). Ankle injuries are bad news for hockey players because they’re skaters. If your ankle is less than 100% healthy, it hurts every single time you make a stride.

But do I think Byfuglinen, if properly motivated, could get himself into playing shape and be an impact player in the postseason? Absolutely. Maybe a change in scenery will motivate Byfuglien. Talk to him and get him excited about making potentially one last run for the Stanley Cup. That would likely light a fire in his belly to come back. And a motivated Byfuglien is a frightening one.