I'll Call It "Resolved"

There will certainly be one less question for the Winnipeg Jets to answer as they head into the off-season whenever that may be. Regardless of what happens from this day forward, the roster and the look of this team has changed significantly as it was announced today that the Jets and their highly-talented, multi-skilled defenceman in Dustin Byfuglien had reached an agreement to terminate his contact effective immediately. I'm not here to pour salt on any wounds for either side. I think both sides would have liked to have seen Dustin Byfuglien's career end with the Jets, but that seems unlikely after today's announcement.

Here's the official statement as issued jointly by the NHL and NHLPA.

As stated above, I'm not here to criticize either side. What's done is done, and there's no going back. The city is losing one of those players whose personality was as big as his plays on the ice, and the Winnipeg Jets' organization is losing an amazing contributor to their charitable work in Dustin's wife, Emily. There isn't another player like Dustin Byfuglien, as we've all heard time and again, but now life will move forward without the big guy patrolling the Winnipeg blue line.

I want to say thank you to both Dustin and Emily.

Thank you to Dustin for the big hits, for the big plays, for the big shot, and for the big smile. Thank you for bringing people to their feet, bringing fans joy, bringing your A-game every night, and bringing Winnipeg to within one series of a Stanley Cup berth. Thank you for adopting this city as yours for eight years, for delivering memorable soundbites for the media, for spending countless hours signing autographs and taking pictures with fans, and for keeping things loose when there were tense moments.

Thank you to Emily for organizing and running charitable fundraisers, for becoming part of of this community, for raising your kids here, and for your time and effort in making people's lives better. Thank you for not letting the naysayers bring you down, for believing in this community, for all you did behind the scenes for Dustin, and for cheering with us when the Jets and your husband did amazing things.

I know that both the NHL and NHLPA consider this matter resolved, but the way this whole thing ended just doesn't feel right for one of the Jets' most beloved players. Yes, the Jets got to rid themselves of $7.6 million on the salary cap which will become somewhat bigger with the salary cap reportedly remaining flat and the need to sign key players such as Dylan DeMelo, but there's a human side to this that just feels wrong. Dustin Byfuglien was one of those players who was part of the core of this team, and it feels like he's just been cast aside due to business. I don't like it.

That being said, it's probably a good time to remind everyone that the NHL is more business than sport nowadays, and this is an ugly reminder that the business dictates how the sport will be played. Dustin Byfuglien becomes one of those guys like Wade Redden and Sheldon Souray whose contract that the team offered and agreed to when it was signed became a problem for the very team that offered it. My hope is that Dustin may find another contract with another team, but some are already reporting that he may retire due to "his heart not being in it" any longer.

Whatever the case may be, I feel lucky to have been able to watch Dustin Byfuglien play live and in living colour, and I feel our city was made better with the additions of Dustin and Emily Byfuglien and their family. I assume they'll return home to Minnesota where the next steps in Dustin's career will be weighed, but it will be hard seeing #33 in another uniform is he does continue his career.

The contract dispute may be resolved, but I wish there was a happier ending for all involved, especially the people of Winnipeg and, most importantly, the Byfuglien family. Thanks for everything you did here, Dustin and Emily, from a fan who wishes it would have ended better.

Until next time, keep your sticks on the ice!