Byfuglien deal a coup that gives Jets flexibility to build contender
The Winnipeg Jets came away big winners in the Dustin Byfuglien deal, and while there's little hope for the club this season, the limited term on his contract extension gives them the flexibility to compete in the years to come.
General manager Kevin Cheveldayoff should be thrilled after extending Byfuglien for three years less than the eight-year, $55-million request the defenseman's camp reportedly made in December.
Related: Jets, Byfuglien agree to 5-year, $38M contract extension
They'll pay $7.6 million against the cap - a slight increase on the $6.875 million hit that would have accompanied the initial ask - but that's a small price to pay for the fact that Byfuglien will be off the books by 2021.
Byfuglien turns 31 next month and is showing no signs of slowing down, but getting him under contract without committing to as many of his post-prime years is a coup for the Jets.
Winnipeg locked up an arguably irreplaceable defenseman who possesses a rare combination of offensive talent and physicality while resolving one of its two major uncertainties three weeks before the trade deadline.
Andrew Ladd - the other uncertainty - is reportedly being shopped, and his play has dropped off dramatically since he authored a career-best season in 2014-15. Captaincy aside, parting with Ladd is academic now, as the Jets look to rebuild with more affordable talent.
The Byfuglien extension is the first major step in that direction. He won't be part of Winnipeg's next generation, but he's a vital component of the current roster.
"Where we started and where we are now, I don't feel as an organization and as a group that we're far off," Byfuglien told reporters after the deal was announced Monday.
He's right. The Jets are all but a certainty to miss the playoffs after qualifying last season, but they have a skilled core including forwards Blake Wheeler, Bryan Little, Mark Scheifele and Drew Stafford, along with 21-year-old defenseman Jacob Trouba, towering blue-liner Tyler Myers, and promising goaltender Connor Hellebuyck.
Hellebuyck, Trouba, and 19-year-old forward Nikolaj Ehlers are already contributing at the NHL level, and there's more talent coming. First-round picks Josh Morrissey and Kyle Connor aren't far behind, and neither is 2013 second-round selection Nic Petan.
Byfuglien's five-year pact will make it easier to keep the future foundation intact, while allowing the Jets to remain competitive until that time comes.