Byfuglien breaks bank: 5-year, $26 million extension with Atlanta

The Atlanta Thrashers have signed pending restricted free agent (and Jeremy Roenick's favorite hip-hop artist) Dustin Byfuglien to a 5-year, $26-million deal, with a "modified" no-trade clause (via Craig Custance) and an annual cap hit of $5.2 million. That cap hit puts him in Mike Green territory ($5.25 mil.) and slightly above what Paul Martin received as an unrestricted free agent last summer ($5 million annually). It also finally topples Ron Hainsey as the Thrashers' top-paid defenseman, although it sadly does nothing to remedy the fact that Ron Hainsey makes $4.5 million against the cap ... From the Thrashers: "Dustin has emerged into an elite player this season and been invaluable as a leader both on and off the ice," said General Manager Rick Dudley. "It was a priority to sign him and we're looking forward to witnessing his All-Star caliber play for many years to come."Byfuglien, 25, leads the team and ranks fifth in the NHL among ...