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Final decision on Dustin Byfuglien's contract coming soon

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TJ Tucker
April 3, 2020  (10:58)
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With everything going on around the globe at the moment, priorities for NHL teams are likely not focused on contract terminations. However, it is expected that the Winnipeg Jets and Dustin Byfuglien will officially part ways soon.

“It is nearing an end, but obviously given current events it's not top priority for all involved," said TSN's Darren Dreger on Insider Trading. "What I know is that the National Hockey League is scheduled to discuss the situation with the Winnipeg Jets in the very near future. Now, the Players' Association, the league, the player and the Winnipeg Jets are all aligned in the termination agreement, but it hasn't been executed yet and because of that the Winnipeg Jets aren't in a position to announce. The detail work between the league and Winnipeg Jets is expected to ironed out in the near future.”

Given the stressed relationship between the Jets and the hulking defenceman, it's not surprising that both sides are in agreement with having the contract terminated. The whole situation started when Byfuglien failed to report for training camp back in September. He then claimed he needed ankle surgery for injuries suffered the previous season, while the team was adamant that he was given a clean bill of health at the end of the year. Things just seemed to go downhill from there. At one point, there were rumours that the Jets were trying to trade Byfuglien at the deadline. However, with 35-year-old unlikely to play this season, that was a hard sell. Byfuglien has one year left on his contract that paid him $7.6 million per season.

The interesting part once the saga between Byfuglien and the Jets is finally completed will be seeing whether he signs with another team once hockey starts back up again.

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