Word came down early Monday that the Winnpeg Jets were making a "big run" at locking up versatile defenseman Dustin Byfuglien. That report proved prophetic, as the team and Byfuglien came to terms on a five-year extension early Monday afternoon.
The deal carries an AAV of $7.6 million, but the annual salary breaks down as such, per ESPN's Craig Custance: $8 million, $8 million, $8 million, $8 million, $6 million.
Seems like Big Buff's Jets teammates were pretty happy to hear he'd be sticking around for the long haul.
The boys congratulate Byfuglien... pic.twitter.com/basrV0oUrP
— Shane Hnidy (@ShaneHnidy) February 8, 2016
At 30, $7.6 million per season is a heavy price to pay for Byfuglien, but his singular skillset and the late career longevity for NHL defenseman likely made the deal worth it for Winnipeg GM Kevin Cheveldayoff. Reports indicated that Byfuglien was looking for a six-year deal, so the Jets did well to keep the term to five.
With his extension, Byfuglien will have the third-highest annual cap hit among the league's blueliners, behind only the Montreal Canadiens' P.K. Subban and the Nashville Predators' Shea Weber.
It will be interesting to see what, if any, effect this deal has on the Jets' dealings with their other free agents - captain Andrew Ladd and Jacob Trouba, who is set to become a restricted free agent - and the rest of the NHL trade marketplace. Recent reports have suggested that many of the league's top personnel men were waiting for the Jets to determine Byfuglien and Ladd's futures before making any trade moves.
With Big Buff re-signed, that may send GMs across the league into trade hyperdrive as they attempt to lay claim to the few available pieces of worth ahead of the deadline.
It wasn't all good news for the Jets on Monday though, as the NHL announced that forward Drew Stafford has been suspended one game for high-sticking Colorado Avalanche defenseman Nick Holden.
