The Winnipeg Jets will be down a key enforcer on the ice to begin the preseason, and possibly the regular season, as they have granted Dustin Byfuglien a leave of absence. There is no official timetable for the defenseman's return, as he joins Patrik Laine and Kyle Connor as those who were not at the start of training camp last week. Laine and Connor did not report as they sit as restricted free agents, awaiting a new contract, possibly similar to the one the Toronto Maple Leafs just gave Mitch Marner a few days ago.
It was expected for the team to be without Connor and Laine to begin training camp, but they did not give a specific reason why Byfuglien needed a leave. Head coach Paul Maurice did confirm to the media that "there's nothing sinister to this," and did add that "he has his right to privacy in this."
If the Jets go any regular season games without Byfuglien, they will be with a short-handed blue line, as they lost Jacob Trouba, Ben Chiarot, and Tyler Meyers this past off-season. The 34-year-old veteran played in 42 games a season ago, finishing with four goals and 27 assists. He does have 869 NHL games under his belt throughout his career, including the past eight seasons with the Jets. During his time with Winnipeg, he has 102 goals and 261 assists. He was a major part of the Jets making the Stanley Cup Playoffs down the stretch last season, despite them falling to the St. Louis Blues in the first round. They do feel that if they want any chance of returning their next spring, they will need their 6-foot-5, 260-pound defenseman back on the ice.
It was expected for the team to be without Connor and Laine to begin training camp, but they did not give a specific reason why Byfuglien needed a leave. Head coach Paul Maurice did confirm to the media that "there's nothing sinister to this," and did add that "he has his right to privacy in this."
If the Jets go any regular season games without Byfuglien, they will be with a short-handed blue line, as they lost Jacob Trouba, Ben Chiarot, and Tyler Meyers this past off-season. The 34-year-old veteran played in 42 games a season ago, finishing with four goals and 27 assists. He does have 869 NHL games under his belt throughout his career, including the past eight seasons with the Jets. During his time with Winnipeg, he has 102 goals and 261 assists. He was a major part of the Jets making the Stanley Cup Playoffs down the stretch last season, despite them falling to the St. Louis Blues in the first round. They do feel that if they want any chance of returning their next spring, they will need their 6-foot-5, 260-pound defenseman back on the ice.
