“I’ve never seen him so handsome”

Dustin Byfuglien and Patrik Laine played together in Winnipeg. ZUMAWIRE / MVPHOTOS

American former NHL defenseman Dustin Byfuglien remained indelibly Patrik Laine remember when the two played at the same time for the Winnipeg Jets in the first years of Laine’s career.

Byfuglien is remembered as a strong and efficient defender who did not shy away from supporting attacks. The man scored 525 power points in 869 regular season games and took 1094 minutes on the ice.

People who follow the NHL were surprised in the fall of 2019 when Byfuglien, whose contract was valid until the end of the 2020–21 season, packed up his career and disappeared from the public eye.

– I was there when it happened, Patrik Laine said in a recent episode of the Spittin’ Chiclets podcast.

– We had ice training before the fall camp. Most players are there. “Buff” was told to be here tomorrow at nine. He said I won’t come back again. “I haven’t seen him since,” Laine said, laughing.

According to Laine, the other players did not take Byfuglien, known as a special man, seriously when he said he would not come back.

– Everyone kind of laughed about seeing each other tomorrow. I’ve never seen him so handsome.

If Byfuglien had played to the end of his contract, he would have earned several million dollars more net.

In 2019, it was reported to the public that Byfuglien missed training camp due to personal reasons. The player and the club went through months of friction, and in the spring of 2020, the Jets announced that the contract has been terminated.

Byfuglien’s weight was said to be 118 kilos during his career. In Spittin’ Chiclets, it was revealed that the player would have weighed more than 120 kilos.

– At his lightest, he weighed maybe 122 kilos, Laine threw.

– I don’t think anyone said anything to him about his weight. I don’t know if he had his own rules, but he was the strongest person I know. He could only tag two players on the field and throw them off the pile.

However, according to Laine’s own words, she never saw Byfuglien lift weights. So the American was a natural, so to speak.

– He moved so gracefully on the ice. I wouldn’t even be able to get up from the sofa at that size, Laine carved.

On game trips, according to Laine, Byfuglien could sit by himself in the back of the plane drinking beer.

– He was often in his own bubble and focused on his own affairs. He was not always loud and in that sense did not bring energy to the room and gather attention, but his presence was noticed.

After his career, Byfuglien has worked at least as a competitive fisherman.