Jets, Byfuglien agree to part ways

Winnipeg Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff chooses to remember the good times with Dustin Byfuglien. The hulking defenceman’s crushing body checks, his unique style, the mind games in heated playoff series, the ability to ragdoll two opponents out of a scrum, and that booming slapshot.

Those fond memories, however, don’t make Friday’s official parting of ways any easier.

In a joint statement released by the NHL and the NHL Players’ Association, the Jets and Byfuglien announced the sides have agreed to a mutual contract termination, bringing an end to a strained relationship between the team and a former face of the franchise.

“This was never our desired outcome or ending with Dustin,” Cheveldayoff said on a conference call. “If it were the Jets writing the perfect script, it would’ve ended with Dustin holding a great, big silver trophy over his head at centre ice and flashing that great, big smile.

“But we’re grateful for the time that we did have with Dustin here. He was a force of nature on and off the ice. He has a tremendously infectious personality that you can’t help but like the person. He played a significant role on our team for a long time.”

Byfuglien, who walked away from US$7.6 million both this season and next, and did not receive a financial settlement, had been a staple with the organization since its last season in Atlanta as the Thrashers following a trade with Chicago in the wake of the Blackhawks’ 2010 Stanley Cup victory.

A fan favourite for everything mentioned above, he was a four-time all-star with the Thrashers/Jets, while also serving as a long-time alternate captain.

But things turned sour at the beginning of this season.

Byfuglien, who signed a five-year, $38-million contract extension to stay in the Manitoba capital in February 2016, was granted a leave of absence for personal reasons on the eve of training camp.

“We met in my office that evening, and he informed me he didn’t know if he had it in him to continue playing in the NHL,” said Cheveldayoff, who declined to reveal much about the situation before Friday. “We connected again together (Sept. 21) and had another long conversation. We were getting to the point where we had to start making some roster decisions and (salary) cap decisions. I asked him if there has been a change. He said he still didn’t want to retire, but still didn’t know that he had it in him to continue to play.

“I said, ‘Look, I’ve got to suspend you.’ He understood.”