21°c A few clouds
25°c Chance of thundershowers
WINNIPEG JETS
Record: 24 – 21 – 3
Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION
Buff breaks his silence
Jets D-man talks, but doesn't have much to say about family matters
John Woods / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS archives Dustin Byfuglien rejoined the Jets in Florida Tuesday after taking a detour to attend his grandfather�s funeral. (WINNIPEG FREE PRESS) Photo Store
TAMPA, Fla. -- There are two Dustin Byfugliens. The one who former teammmates seek out after games and greet with bear hugs. Then there is the man who prefers his privacy where the media is concerned and isn't afraid to defend it.
Byfuglien speaks when Byfuglien wants to speak. Good luck trying to convince him to do otherwise.
Byfuglien broke his silence on Thursday after the Jets' morning skate and, as is the nature of the man, had little to say about his family matters.
Byfuglien did not travel to South Florida with the Jets on Sunday and arrived just over an hour prior to the team's 4-1 loss to the Florida Panthers on Tuesday.
Byfuglien travelled to Roseau, Minn., to attend his grandfather's funeral. Byfuglien is known around the Jets organization for having a big sense of humour and a bigger heart.
"I had a thing with the family and I don't want to talk about it but I had to go home for a bit," said Byfuglien.
The Jets arranged for Byfuglien to fly from Winnipeg to Toronto and then Fort Lauderdale, Fla., on Tuesday in an attempt to skirt a storm that was hammering the U.S. midwest.
"I was in economy. Just like you guys. It was chaos and a long day. It was different. I put the headphones on and went to sleep," chuckled Byfuglien, who normally has his own business class-style seat on the Jets' private charter. "It was different. You don't have as much time to think and prepare, especially when you haven't been around. I had some things to get done to be ready."
Arriving just prior to game time and an in different emotional headspace didn't prevent Byfuglien from playing.
"Did I think about not playing? No, not really. It was something I thought I needed to do to clear the head," he said. "At first, I didn't know what to think or how I was going to react. But when it was time to go it was just react and don't think. It was hockey. It was all business."
Byfuglien had an ordinary game on Tuesday according to his coach, Claude Noel.
"I thought he was fine," said Noel. "It wasn't his best game but he wasn't an issue. I thought he should play and he wanted to play. It was good for him."
gary.lawless@freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @garylawless
Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition March 8, 2013 C2
More Winnipeg Jets
- Back to Top
- Return to Winnipeg Jets
More Winnipeg Jets
(1 of 6 articles for this week)
Bogosian too important an asset to let slip away
06/19/2013 7:23 AM 0
Poll
Most Popular Winnipeg Jets
- Bogosian too important an asset to let slip away
- Kane called on carpet for slur
- Jets to play Caps in Kraft Hockeyville match in Ontario
- Bigger Byfuglien in no shape for a trade
- Kane's days are numbered in 'Peg
- Buff just 'sitting around a lot' now
- Evander Kane tweets then deletes homophobic comment, apologizes
- Hainsey unlikely to stay with Jets
- Kane gets surgical tune-up
- The Great Canadian Hockey Quiz
- Evander Kane tweets then deletes homophobic comment, apologizes
- Kane called on carpet for slur
- Jets Kane has foot surgery to repair nerve damage
- Bogosian too important an asset to let slip away
- Bigger Byfuglien in no shape for a trade
- Jets to play Caps in Kraft Hockeyville match in Ontario
- Kane gets surgical tune-up
- Jets in talks with Bogosian, Little
- Hainsey unlikely to stay with Jets
- Kane's days are numbered in 'Peg
- Evander Kane tweets then deletes homophobic comment, apologizes
- Burmistrov wants out of Winnipeg
- Bigger Byfuglien in no shape for a trade
- Jets in talks with Bogosian, Little
- Jets sign Brassard, let Yuen go free
- Catching up with the Jets
- Jets ink deal with 2011 draft pick
- Jets need more everything
- Vigneault will be a man in demand
- Hainsey unlikely to stay with Jets
- Evander Kane tweets then deletes homophobic comment, apologizes
- Bigger Byfuglien in no shape for a trade
- Hainsey unlikely to stay with Jets
- Jets in talks with Bogosian, Little
- Jets Kane has foot surgery to repair nerve damage
- Bigger Byfuglien in no shape for a trade
- Burmistrov wants out of Winnipeg
- Vigneault will be a man in demand
- Tix for Jets' draft party on sale soon
- Evander Kane tweets then deletes homophobic comment, apologizes
- Jets have deal with ECHL team in California
- Hainsey unlikely to stay with Jets
- Jets in talks with Bogosian, Little
- Catching up with the Jets
- Crafting a draft
Ads by Google
You can comment on most stories on winnipegfreepress.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is be a Winnipeg Free Press print or e-edition subscriber to join the conversation and give your feedback.
You can comment on most stories on winnipegfreepress.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is be a Winnipeg Free Press print or e-edition subscriber to join the conversation and give your feedback.
Have Your Say
New to commenting? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions.
Have Your Say
Comments are open to Winnipeg Free Press print or e-edition subscribers only. why?
Login SubscribeHave Your Say
Comments are open to Winnipeg Free Press Subscribers only. why?
SubscribeThe Winnipeg Free Press does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comment, you agree to our Terms and Conditions. These terms were revised effective April 16, 2010.