Dustin Byfuglien is headed back to Winnipeg, and Jets fans just received a reminder of what made Big Buff different.
Byfuglien is preparing to skate in an upcoming alumni matchup featuring former Jets and Canadiens players, putting the retired defenseman back on the ice in Winnipeg.
During the Kenora Bass International fishing tournament, Byfuglien was asked whether he was getting himself into shape for the reunion.
His answer couldn't have been more on brand. Byfuglien simply replied, "Never was in shape," drawing laughs from the crowd and quickly getting hockey fans talking online.
There apparently won't be an intense training camp coming either. Byfuglien has indicated he isn't planning some elaborate conditioning program before pulling the skates back on.
That admission fits the player Winnipeg remembers. At 6-foot-5, Byfuglien built his game around unusual size, mobility, puck skill and an ability to create offense from the blue line.
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Dustin Byfuglien breaks his silence ahead of highly anticipated Jets return/h2>
The comment is funny because Byfuglien never looked or played like a conventional NHL defenseman. He could control stretches of games while carrying a frame unlike almost anyone else at his position.
He was also versatile enough to spend time at forward, another wrinkle that made his career difficult to compare with other defensemen from his era.
Since leaving professional hockey, Byfuglien has maintained a relatively low public profile. That made his appearance at the fishing tournament, and the classic one-liner that followed, especially popular with longtime Jets fans.
Fishing has remained closely associated with Byfuglien away from hockey, so hearing him joke about conditioning while competing in a bass tournament felt almost perfectly suited to his post-NHL life.
Now Winnipeg gets another chance to see number 33 around the rink. The alumni setting removes the pressure while bringing back one of the most recognizable personalities from the franchise's recent history.
Nobody should expect the reunion game to resemble Byfuglien's NHL prime. That's not really the point of an alumni night anyway.
The attraction is seeing Big Buff back in Jets colours, interacting with old teammates and giving the Winnipeg crowd another dose of the personality that made him such a fan favorite.
And judging by his answer in Kenora, retirement hasn't changed him much. Byfuglien is coming back on his own terms, with no interest in pretending he's suddenly obsessed with offseason conditioning.
Source : Dustin Byfuglien's Wild Confession Ahead of His Return to Winnipeg.
Is Dustin Byfuglien the most entertaining former Winnipeg Jets player?
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