Dustin Byfuglien to move back to defence with the Atlanta Thrashers
Dustin Byfuglien has already done some moving once in the off-season, as he was traded from the Chicago Blackhawks to the Atlanta
Thrashers. But it appears that he is not finished moving just yet.
The 6ft 4in, 257lb forward, who is affectionately known as “Big Buff”, was originally drafted as a defenceman by the Blackhawks in
2003 (245th overall). In his first season with the team, Byfuglien played his natural position, but was later moved over to right wing. Given the Minnesota native’s large stature and imposing physical presence, the team thought he would be better suited to
playing as a forward.
The experiment proved to be a successful one, as Byfuglien did not look out of place at all on the right wing. The switch was made
because the team felt it could use Byfuglien’s size to their advantage in front of the net. He was one of several key contributors to Chicago’s Stanley Cup championship last season, and is a great power forward who plays with grit, determination, and a high
level of intensity.
After the Stanley Cup victory, Byfuglien and several of his Blackhawks teammates were cut loose by the team due to salary cap issues.
Byfuglien was traded to the Atlanta Thrashers on 24 June, along with Brent Sopel, Ben Eager, and Akim Aliu. The Hawks received Atlanta’s first- and second-round picks in the 2010 draft, and players Marty Reasoner, Joey Crabb, and Jeremy Morin.
Byfuglien will be making a move back to defence with his new team, as the Thrashers believe that he will just as effective with scoring
goals from the back end as he was at the front. He possesses a hard shot, and has been known to score goals in clutch situations.
Last season in Chicago, Byfuglien scored 17 goals and 17 assists for 34 points. During the playoffs, he had 16 points (11G, 5A) in
22 games en route to winning the Stanley Cup. In 260 career NHL games, Big Buff has 55 goals and 54 assists for 109 points.
Dustin Byfuglien to move back to defence with the Atlanta Thrashers
Dustin Byfuglien has already done some moving once in the offseason, as he was traded from the Chicago Blackhawks to the Atlanta Thrashers. But it appears that he is not finished moving just yet.
The 6ft 4in, 257lb forward, who is affectionately known as “Big Buff”, was originally drafted as a defenceman by the Blackhawks in 2003 (245th overall). In his first season with the team, Byfuglien played his natural
position, but was later moved over to right wing. Given the Minnesota native’s large stature and imposing physical presence, the team thought he would be better suited to playing as a forward.
The experiment proved to be a successful one, as Byfuglien did not look out of place at all on the right wing. The switch was made because the team felt it could use Byfuglien’s size to their advantage in front
of the net. He was one of several key contributors to Chicago’s Stanley Cup championship last season, and is a great power forward who plays with grit, determination, and a high level of intensity.
After the Stanley Cup victory, Byfuglien and several of his Blackhawks teammates were cut loose by the team due to salary cap issues. Byfuglien was traded to the Atlanta Thrashers on 24 June, along with Brent Sopel,
Ben Eager, and Akim Aliu. The Hawks received Atlanta’s first- and second-round picks in the 2010 draft, and players Marty Reasoner, Joey Crabb, and Jeremy Morin.
Byfuglien will be making a move back to defence with his new team, as the Thrashers believe that he will just as effective with scoring goals from the back end as he was at the front. He possesses a hard shot, and
has been known to score goals in clutch situations. Some are not optimistic about Byfuglien’s shift back to defence, as his size does not make him as mobile as a defenceman should be.
Last season in Chicago, Byfuglien scored 17 goals and 17 assists for 34 points. During the playoffs, he had 16 points (11G, 5A) in 22 games en route to winning the
Stanley Cup. In 260 career NHL games, Big Buff has 55 goals and 54 assists for 109 points.
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