Bufyglien makes significant step toward mending relationship with Jets

Mike McIntyre and Jason Bell of the Winnipeg Free Press have just revealed that defenseman Dustin Byfuglien has started a post-surgery rehabilitation program for his broken ankle in consultation with the Jets. This is seen as an encouraging step toward mending the two parties’ strained relationship ever since the veteran player was suspended at the start of the season. 

This brings Buff closer to a potential return with the Jets later this season.

McIntyre and Bell note that Byfuglien is working with medical staff at an independent clinic, but there’s been “ongoing communication” with the Jets about his treatment and recovery process. 

“To our understanding, he has progressed to the stage of doing rehab. However, his status with the team remains unchanged,” the club told The Free Press.

“He is doing rehab at an outside clinic. He is still under suspension.”

Byfuglien was suspended by the team for failing to report to training camp after he was considered to be thinking about retirement. The NHLPA filed a grievance challenging the move last month. 

When it all started in training camp, the Jets said that Byfuglien was deemed fit to play after his 2018-19 season-ending physical and didn’t indicate he was dealing with an ankle injury during the summer. The team believes he made it clear at the beginning of the year he was ready to retire. Many insiders therefore believe this could end up in arbitration, though the Jets and Byfuglien still do not have a date set for an arbitration case. 

The Free Press added that the longer the situation extends without a date for a hearing, the higher the odds that it can be resolved amicably.

Byfuglien is in the second-last season of a five-year, $38-million contract with the Jets. He is set to earn $8 million this season and $6 million next, but due to his suspension by the team, he hasn’t collected any of his salary as of 2019-20. 

This sounds like good news in the case!