Boston Bruins: Dustin Byfuglien Sweepstakes Finished

Boston Bruins: Dustin Byfuglien Sweepstakes Finished After Contract Extension In Winnipeg

Over the last few months, the Boston Bruins, among many other NHL teams, have been speculated as possible suitors for Dustin Byfuglien come the trade deadline on February 29th. With such a big need for a top-4, and more specifically top-2 defenseman on the Bruins’ blueline, Dustin Byfuglien seemed to fit the bill perfectly.

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Standing at six-foot-five and weighing upwards of 260 pounds, it’s not hard to see why Dustin Byfuglien was so highly coveted, especially considering the fact that he uses his size to not only defend his own net, but also to create havoc in the offensive zone. With his combination of big-hits, defensive ability and offense, the Bruins would become a much harder team to play against physically, an issue that has plagued the team on many occasions already this season.

So far in the 2015-16 season, Dustin Byfuglien has scored 15 goals and added 17 assists for 32 points in 52 games. His 15 goals are impressive from the blueline and are tied for second in the league among defensemen. What’s really impressive about Dustin Byfuglien however is the fact that he’s played in all of Winnipeg’s 52 games this season despite his rough-and-tough style of hockey. Byfuglien has been a statistical phenom in other categories as well, including his 163 shots on goal, 78 penalty minutes, as well as his 24:14 of ice time per game.

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It isn’t every day that a former eighth round draft pick gets signed to a huge contract extension, but Dustin Byfuglien has never let anything hold him back in his already-impressive career. The Winnipeg Jets announced on Monday that they had reached a contract extension with Dustin Byfuglien that runs for the next five years and is worth a total of $38,000,000; his annual average salary will be $7,600,000 over those five years.

Dustin Byfuglien is already 30 years old which is why the Jets were hesitant, if not adamantly against giving him an extension of seven, or eight years in term. Five years was a happy-medium for the two parties, even if Byfuglien could have gotten more money on the open market; whether that be in years or average annual salary, if not both. The love that Dustin Byfuglien has for the city of Winnipeg and his team, as well as the reciprocated feelings were clearly enough to keep big Buff in Winnipeg for the long-run despite the Jets currently sitting at the bottom of the league standings.

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With Dustin Byfuglien off the table, the Bruins will have to turn their attention elsewhere. While it isn’t clear if Bruins’ general manager Don Sweeney had interest in Byfuglien or not, the option to make any sort of trade offer for him is eliminated with this extenson, meaning other coveted defensemen in the trade market will be targeted by more teams that may have been legitimate contenders for Dustin Byfuglien.

Some of the remaining defenders that remain possible trade options for the Boston Bruins include Sami Vatanen, Cam Fowler, Hampus Lindholm, Keith Yandle, Kevin Shattenkirk, Justin Schultz, Marco Scandella, Jonas Brodin, Mathew Dumba, as well as John-Michael Liles and Dan Hamhuis. One other name that seems unlikely now due to his 20 game suspension is Dennis Wideman. The suspension may actually be a good thing for the Bruins as Wideman is not the kind of player the Bruins’ need right now as they attempt to bolster their blueline prior to the postseason.

Next: Loui Eriksson And The Blueline Dilemma

Acquiring many of the players mentioned above will cost the Bruins a lot of valuable assets, and it would be silly to suggest that Loui Eriksson would fetch any of the top options listed by himself. The Bruins have a deep prospect pool, two first round draft picks, and some roster players that could be considered in a deal such as Eriksson and even Brett Connolly. It won’t be easy for Don Sweeney to make a move that Bruins’ fans are okay with as many teams are in the market for top defensive options as well, but if the Bruins’ are going to make the playoffs and contend for the Stanley Cup, a deal must be made.

Follow Brandon Share-Cohen on Twitter @BShareCohen to discuss all things Bruins and sports