Dustin Byfuglien derby: Capitals, Panthers in mix for Big Buff?
It’s pretty clear that Dustin Byfuglien’s next contract could end up being too rich for the Winnipeg Jets, necessitating a trade this season before he goes UFA in the summer.
That could mean Byfuglien gets rented by a contender for a significant asking price. But which teams would step up to pay it?
Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet looks at two Eastern Conference clubs that could be vying for Byfuglien’s services, although one is a bit more theoretic than the other.
Here’s Friedman on the Washington Capitals and Big Buff:
With Brooks Orpik’s health situation uncertain, a couple of sources indicated to check Washington’s interest in Dustin Byfuglien. There’s logic to this, as their cap hits are within $300,000 of each other. Can you imagine the Capitals with him? Anyways, it doesn’t look like this is going to happen. Word is Orpik’s injury is not season-ending. If he was gone until the playoffs (e.g. Patrick Kane last year), I could see Washington trying.
Darn. That would have been an incredible addition: The surliness he shares with Orpik, but with a scary-as-all-heck net front presence for the team’s snipers to shoot through.
That other team Friedman’s wondering about? The Florida Panthers, for obvious managerial reasons:
Since we’re throwing things at the wall, here’s another: Now that Florida is showing itself to be a playoff contender, it would surprise no one if the Panthers took a run at Byfuglien. GM Dale Tallon was in Chicago when Byfuglien was drafted, and took over the hockey operations as he rose through the organization. He’s a fan. Something to watch for.
So of course this is going to happen, right?
Tallon loves him. He’s a right-handed shot. He brings all sorts of intangibles with him that a young team looking to win can use. Did we mention Tallon loves him?
What would it cost them? Great question. Would it be worth trying to rent Byfuglien at this stage of their development as a contender? Hey, Luongo isn’t getting any younger. Could they give him the contract he’s looking for so this isn’t just a rental? Well, Brian Campbell isn’t making $7.1 million on his next deal, if that helps.
As Friedman says, “something to watch for.”
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Greg Wyshynski is a writer for Yahoo Sports. Contact him at puckdaddyblog@yahoo.com or find him on Twitter. His book, TAKE YOUR EYE OFF THE PUCK, is available on Amazon and wherever books are sold.
