Let’s start this out by saying, Dustin Byfuglien returning to the NHL is a longshot. During a recent interview with his agent, there were many times it was hinted that Bug Buff was done and by most accounts, the possibility of the defenseman returning to the league doesn’t look promising. That said, it wasn’t completely ruled out.
Byfuglien’s agent, Ben Hankinson, recently joined Michael Russo and Anthony LaPanta on Episode 266 of The Russo Hockey Show and noted that Byfulgien is doing well and that it’s more likely he retires than anything else. That said, he also noted that Byfuglien met recently met with Minnesota Wild general manager Bill Guerin to see if a deal was possible and his agent believes the fit would be perfect if it were to ever happen.
Hankinson said the messaging he’s gotten from Buff is that he’d get the surgery needed to keep his options open, but likely won’t return. He explained:
“I think really it’s going to be a long shot if he comes back and plays, he hunts and fishes and he’s got young kids and he’s very active in their lives, he’s got some anchorage here in Minneapolis that would make it a perfect fit for him to come back and play for the Wild […] but I think it’s going to be a very long shot.
Byfuglien Doesn’t Seem Interested
A defenseman who was often talked about as lacking the motivation to stay in shape and do what was needed to be an even more impactful player than he already was, it’s hard to imagine he’ll find the motivation to return after more than a year on the shelf, major surgery behind him and other passions taking his time.
Should he retire, the 35-year-old defenseman had a good run. Anything is possible, including the Wild being his next stop in the NHL, but more and more people closely connected to the blueliner think it’s unlikely. We’ll suggest they have a better read on the situation than we do.
More must-reads: