5 Things You Might Not Know About the Jets' Dustin Byfuglien
Every now and then, I find myself thinking about Winnipeg Jets great Dustin Byfuglien. He surprised me and the hockey world by retiring while still at the peak of his career. But when he played, he sure made a difference on the ice.
Byfuglien was a rare breed of player.
Part of that is because players like "Big Buff" don't come around very often. He was a rare NHL player who seemed to break the mould. At 6-foot-5 and well over 250 pounds during parts of his career, he looked like he belonged on an NFL field. Yet somehow, he had the hands of a skilled forward and the instincts of a top defenseman.
Most hockey fans remember the big hits, the Stanley Cup with Chicago, and the way he could completely take over a game. But there are a few things about Byfuglien that many fans may not know.
Here are five things Jets fans might not know about Big Buff.
Thing One: His Last Name Isn't Really Pronounced the Way Everyone Says It.
For years, hockey fans have called him "Buff-lin." That's how broadcasters said it and how most of us learned it. However, the Norwegian pronunciation of Byfuglien is reportedly much closer to "Bee-Foog-Lee-In." In other words, all those fans who sounded out every letter in his name weren't nearly as wrong as they thought.
Thing Two: Hockey Runs in the Byfuglien Family.
Byfuglien didn't come out of nowhere. His cousin, Derrick Byfuglien, was drafted by the Ottawa Senators, while his stepfather, Dale Smedsmo, was drafted by the Toronto Maple Leafs and even played a handful of NHL games. The NHL was part of the family long before Dustin arrived.
Related: 3 Reasons Teemu Selanne Was a Legend for the Old Winnipeg Jets.
Thing Three: Byfuglien Once Took a Year Away From Hockey to Go Fishing.
This one might be my favourite. Growing up in Minnesota, Byfuglien loved fishing almost as much as hockey. In fact, as a teenager, he reportedly took a year off from the game and spent much of it ice fishing. Most future NHL stars spend every waking moment training. Big Buff was out chasing fish.
Thing Four: Byfuglien Was a True Positionless Player.
Modern hockey loves versatility, but Byfuglien took it to another level. He could play defence. He could play wing. He could dominate at both. During Chicago's 2010 Stanley Cup run, he was deployed as a forward and became one of the most dangerous playoff performers in the league. There aren't many players in NHL history who could switch positions that seamlessly.
Thing Five: Byfuglien Wanted to Be Mike Modano.
Before he became one of the NHL's most unique stars, Byfuglien was just another Minnesota kid dreaming about being like Mike Modano. The former Minnesota North Stars star was his hockey idol growing up. Like countless young players in the state, Byfuglien imagined someday following a similar path to the NHL.
The Bottom Line: Byfuglien was one of the NHL's most unique players.
Not many kids grow up wanting to be Modano and end up becoming something entirely different. But that's exactly what happened with Dustin Byfuglien. He became one of the most unforgettable players of his generation—a defenceman, a forward, a power-play weapon, and a wrecking ball. For many fans, he was one of the most entertaining players the game has ever seen.