Dustin Byfuglien: Will Open Season At Forward

Jets coach Paul Maurice reiterated Thursday that Byfuglien will "start and finish" training camp as a forward, Ken Wiebe of the Winnipeg Sun reports.

Analysis:

This was to be expected after Byfuglien played exclusively at forward when Maurice replaced Claude Noel as coach in January, and it should only help Big Buff's fantasy value in leagues where he retains eligibility as a defenseman. Byfuglien racked up 10 goals and 12 assists over 32 games on the wing last season, which is actually a lower scoring rate than what he provided at the blue line. However, with a full offseason to prepare for a role at forward, Byfuglien stands a good chance at boosting his per-game point totals, but perhaps only if he's able to land a spot on the first or second line.