Fans of the Jets were reminded of what made Big Buff unique after Dustin Byfuglien returned to Winnipeg.
Former Jets and Canadiens players will compete in an upcoming alumni game, and retired defenseman Byfuglien is getting ready to skate again in Winnipeg.
Byfuglien was questioned about whether he was preparing for the reunion during the Kenora Bass International fishing tournament.
His reply could not have been more consistent with the brand. Never in shape, Byfuglien just replied, which elicited laughter from the crowd and quickly had hockey fans chatting online.
Additionally, it seems that no demanding training camp will be held. Before putting his skates back on, Byfuglien has said that he does not intend to undertake an complex conditioning program.
The player Winnipeg remembers fits that confession. Byfuglien, who stands at 6 feet 5 inches tall, developed his game on a blend of unusual size, mobility, puck skill, and the capacity to generate offense from the blue line.
Ahead of his much anticipated return to the Jets, Dustin Byfuglien speaks out.
The humor in the statement comes from the fact that Byfuglien never appeared or played like a typical NHL defenseman. He had a body type unlike almost anybody else at his position, and he was able to maintain control of entire games.
Another element that made his career difficult to compare with other defensemen from his time was his versatility, which allowed him to spend time at forward.
Byfuglien has kept a rather modest public image since quitting professional hockey. His appearance at the fishing competition and the iconic one-liner that followed were particularly well-received by seasoned Jets fans.
Hearing him joke about conditioning during a bass competition felt almost ideal for his post-NHL career because fishing has always been closely linked with Byfuglien outside of hockey.
Now, Winnipeg has another opportunity to watch number 33 skating around the field. The alumni environment alleviates the stress while resurrecting one of the franchise’s most memorable figures in recent memory.
It’s unrealistic to expect the reunion game to be similar to Byfuglien’s NHL heyday. In any event, an alumni night’s primary goal isn’t that.
Seeing Big Buff return to the Jets, engaging with previous teammates, and giving the Winnipeg faithful another taste of his personality, which made him so popular, is what makes the experience enjoyable.
And based on his response in Kenora, retirement hasn’t really altered him. Byfuglien is returning on his own terms and has no desire to feign a sudden preoccupation with offseason conditioning.
Leave a Reply