Why there's absolutely no reason for Blackhawks to bring Byfuglien back
Dustin Byfuglien and the Winnipeg Jets agreed to terminate the veteran's contract last week, leading some to wonder if the Blackhawks should make a run at the 6-foot-5 defenseman when free agency rolls around.
The obvious answer is no - and for many reasons. Among them:
• He's 35 years old and didn't play a game this season.
• Winnipeg general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff said he thought Byfuglien was healthy in September, but "had lost his desire to play in the National Hockey League."
Friend and former teammate Kris Versteeg also told Hockey Central last week that he would be "shocked if (Byfuglien) ever plays again."
• The Hawks are up against the salary cap anyway, so it's unlikely they could afford Byfuglien, even if he agreed to a below-market value deal.
• It's not like the Hawks are one player away from winning a Stanley Cup. Their focus should be on developing the young talent on the roster and in the pipeline. Bringing Byfuglien in would just stunt the growth of one or two defensemen.
More than likely, Byfuglien will retire with 102 goals and 261 assists in 528 NHL games.
He added 21 goals in 66 postseason games, with 11 of those tallies coming during the Hawks' 2010 title run. Two came in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final against the Flyers, and another came in the clincher three nights later.
Unforgettable days for sure for Hawks fans.
As for re-signing Byfuglien?
Forget it.