Thrashers Ink Byfuglien to Multi-Year Contract

[Thrillhouse]

The Atlanta Thrashers have signed defenseman Dustin Byfuglien to a multiple-year contract extension, according to General Manager Rick Dudley.

“Dustin has emerged into an elite player this season and been invaluable as a leader both on and off the ice," said Dudley. "It was a priority to sign him and we’re looking forward to witnessing his All-Star caliber play for many years to come.”

Byfuglien, 25, leads the team and ranks fifth in the NHL among defenseman in scoring with 43 points (17 goals, 26 assists) this season while leading all league defenseman in goals. He has tallied six game-winning goals, one shy of the NHL record for a defenseman in a single season and tied the Thrashers single-game scoring record for a defensemen with four points (one goal, three assists) against Boston on Nov. 28. Byfuglien was named the NHL’s second star of the week (period ending Nov. 28) and the league’s third star for the month of November. For his efforts this season, he was also named an NHL All-Star.

The Minneapolis, Minn., native has appeared in 318 career NHL games while totaling 152 points (72 goals, 80 assists) with the Chicago Blackhawks (2005-06 to 2009-10) and Thrashers (2010-11). Last season with the Blackhawks, Byfuglien recorded 16 points (11 goals, five assists) in 22 post-season games while helping lead the team to the 2010 Stanley Cup Championship. The 6-5, 265-pound defenseman has also compiled 25 points (14 goals, 11 assists) in 39 career playoff games.

Byfuglien was acquired by the Thrashers this past offseason in a trade with Chicago on June 24, 2010. He was originally selected by the Blackhawks in the eighth round (245th overall) of the 2003 NHL Entry Draft.

[thepolishkid88]

5 year deal with him getting a rumored 20-30 million.

[Juha82]

Originally Posted by thepolishkid88

5 year deal with him getting a rumored 20-30 million.

Maybe too much money for him, is he that worthy??
He seems scoring the points a lot of but i am not very convinced of his own end playing.
He usuallu plays a better hockey yet in the post-season-

[thepolishkid88]

5yrs 26 million.

[thepolishkid88]

Originally Posted by Juha82

Maybe too much money for him, is he that worthy??
He seems scoring the points a lot of but i am not very convinced of his own end playing.
He usuallu plays a better hockey yet in the post-season-

They went into negotiations with one problem. How to view him, is he a forward or dman? Byfuglien and his agent argued he is dman and they used Letang's contract (could be wrong it might be Daley) as a basis of what to work off of.

[Juha82]

Originally Posted by thepolishkid88

They went into negotiations with one problem. How to view him, is he a forward or dman? Byfuglien and his agent argued he is dman and they used Letang's contract (could be wrong it might be Daley) as a basis of what to work off of.

He played a winger forward in the Chicago and scored even lesser points than now a defenseman in Atlanta in regular season though or am i remembering wrong.

[Perrott26]

Yikes, might regret that one.

[Juicys1]

Originally Posted by Perrott26

Yikes, might regret that one.

Agreed, but Hes rich now LOL , Good for him

[swimmer]

I'm glad we resigned him!

[grits207]

Originally Posted by Perrott26

Yikes, might regret that one.

They would regret it a hell of a lot more if they didn't get him re-signed before he became an RFA.

The Thrashers have the lowest payroll in the league right now, it's not going to hurt them to give Byfuglien a big contract.

[Perrott26]

Originally Posted by grits207

They would regret it a hell of a lot more if they didn't get him re-signed before he became an RFA.

The Thrashers have the lowest payroll in the league right now, it's not going to hurt them to give Byfuglien a big contract.

You could be right, but they didn't have a very large sample size to go off. He did well, but he has cooled significantly the last 20 games or so. I see him turning into Phaneuf for some reason.

He's done well for himself to earn that contract, though. Who would have thought the Hawks 2nd/3rd line forward from last season would be one of the best defenseman in the league this season.

[kam]

Originally Posted by grits207

They would regret it a hell of a lot more if they didn't get him re-signed before he became an RFA.

The Thrashers have the lowest payroll in the league right now, it's not going to hurt them to give Byfuglien a big contract.

Maybe but 5yrs 26 million is a bit much for the guy.

[gdameo]

wow ....def too much......big time

[bengino]

while i think that Buff had to be resigned, the figures of 5+ mil a year seems stretched for a guy that is finally getting consistent production and was more of a floater his first few years in the show. He better keep playing the way he does now or things might end up like Redden or Souray for him....

[The Woodsman]

Way too much for Buff.