NHL News: Dustin Byfuglien Signs Five Year Deal With the Winnipeg Jets

The Winnipeg Jets have signed defenseman Dustin Byfuglien to five year contract extension worth $38 million, a $7.6 million cap hit.

The 30-year old Byfuglien was drafted 245th overall in the 8th round of the 2003 draft by the Blackhawks.

Thoughts from the media:

• Craig Custance: “Annual salary breakdown of the Dustin Byfuglien contract: $8 million, $8 million, $8 million, $8 million, $6 million.”
• Ted Wyman: “With new deal, Byfuglien now has third-highest AAV ($7.6 mil) among #NHL defencemen. Only Subban and Shea Weber higher. #NHLJets”
• Cap Friendly: “Similar cap hits to Byfuglien deal Shea Weber $7.857M Dustin Byfuglien $7.6M Ryan Suter $7.538M Kris Letang $7.25M”
• Cap Friendly: “with Dustin Byfuglien signed, #Jets now have 5 of their current d-men under contract for next season & beyond at a total of $23,212,500M”
• Ted Wyman: “At this time last year, it was often reported Byfuglien was looking for 7 or 8 years of term on his deal. Five years is great for #NHLjets”
• Down Goes Brown: “I like that Byfuglien deal for the Jets. Said all along that a big AAV was worth it if they could keep the term reasonable. They did.”
• EJ Hradek: “Re Byfuglien new deal: team gives more $$ per year, player takes one less year in term. Compromise makes sense for both. Hard guy to replace”
• Ryan Kennedy: “Here’s what Jets were up against with Byfuglien: according to one agent I spoke with (not his), Buff could have gotten $8 mil on open market”
• Shawn Simpson: “Jets pay a little more at 7.6 per for Byfuglien. But keep term down at 5 years. Important deal for team and fans!!!”