ST. LOUIS – The Winnipeg Jets have locked up one of their big pieces, inking defenceman Dustin Byfuglien to a five-year contract extension with an average annual value of $7.6 million.
The move is mammoth for the 30-year-old Byfuglien, who has 15 goals and 17 assists this season – his 15 goals ranking him second among all NHL defencemen. It also leaves captain Andrew Ladd as the only remaining unrestricted free agent unsigned.
Just last week Byfuglien made no secret of his desire to remain in Winnipeg with the Jets only a few days after some of his comments at the NHL All-Star Game in Nashville were painted as ‘lukewarm’.