Dustin Byfuglien

Lore & Background

Byfuglien was born in Minneapolis to Cheryl Byfuglien and Rick Spencer. His mother is of Norwegian and Swedish descent, and his father is African-American. He moved with his mother to Roseau, Minnesota, where he discovered hockey. His stepfather, Dale Smedsmo, played four NHL games with the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1972 and 110 games in the WHA. Byfuglien was academically ineligible to play hockey at Roseau High School, so his family relocated to Warrenville, Illinois, for AAA under-18 hockey with the Chicago Mission. He later moved to Canada to play in the Western Hockey League.

Drafted by the Chicago Blackhawks in 2003, Byfuglien played major junior hockey for the Brandon Wheat Kings and Prince George Cougars. He made his NHL debut in the 2007–08 season, scoring a goal on his first shift against the St. Louis Blues on November 3, 2007, and recorded his first career hat-trick against the Phoenix Coyotes on November 30. He was moved from defense to right wing to provide a larger net-front presence. In the 2010 Stanley Cup playoffs, he scored 11 goals with five assists, including three goals in the Finals against the Philadelphia Flyers.

On June 24, 2010, Byfuglien was traded to the Atlanta Thrashers, who moved him back to defense. He became an alternate captain and was selected to his first All-Star Game. When the Thrashers relocated to Winnipeg in 2011, Byfuglien continued with the Jets, earning multiple All-Star selections. He signed a five-year, $38 million contract extension with the Jets on February 8, 2016. In the 2018–19 season, he led the team in penalty minutes with 69 and averaged over 25 minutes per game in the playoffs. On September 13, 2019, he was granted an indefinite personal leave of absence, later underwent surgery for a high ankle sprain, and on April 17, 2020, the Jets and Byfuglien mutually agreed to a contract termination.

Reader's Guide

Dustin Byfuglien's career is notable for his versatility, having played both forward and defense at the NHL level. Originally drafted as a defenseman, he was moved to right wing by the Chicago Blackhawks to use his size near the net, and he played a key role in their 2010 Stanley Cup championship. After being traded to the Atlanta Thrashers (later the Winnipeg Jets), he returned to defense and became a multiple-time All-Star. Byfuglien recorded his 500th NHL point on October 27, 2018, becoming the 14th player drafted in the eighth round or later to reach that milestone. His later years with the Jets were marked by injuries and a personal leave of absence, culminating in a mutual contract termination in April 2020. After retiring from hockey, Byfuglien pursued a career as a professional fisherman, a passion he had embraced during his playing days. He also faced a legal incident in 2011 when he was arrested on suspicion of boating while intoxicated on Lake Minnetonka, to which he pleaded guilty and was sentenced to two days of community service.

Did You Know?

• He became a professional fisherman after his hockey career.
• He was arrested on Lake Minnetonka in 2011 on suspicion of boating while intoxicated.