Byfuglien ‘excited just to be around’ Jets alumni at Heritage Classic

WINNIPEG -- Dustin Byfuglien has become somewhat of a mythical figure around these parts.

Once revered for what he could do on the ice and for his infectious personality off it, the former Winnipeg Jets defenseman became a recluse after walking away from the game prior to the 2019-20 season and leaving $14 million on the table for the final two years of his contract.

So, when Byfuglien was invited back to participate in the Alumni Game in conjunction to the 2026 Tim Hortons NHL Heritage Classic between the Jets and Montreal Canadiens at Princess Auto Stadium on Sunday (7 p.m. ET; TVAS, SN, TNT, truTV, HBO MAX), a wave of excitement rolled through this city with the return of their beloved son.

“I’m excited just to be around the guys, coming and see faces that you don’t get to see every day,” Byfuglien said Saturday prior to the game against Montreal’s alumni. “There’s a lot of memories. We went through a lot of hard times with each other, so it’s fun to come back and be with the guys again.”

Byfuglien played the last eight of his 14 NHL seasons here and is considered one of the most popular players in franchise history. He moved with the franchise from Atlanta for the start of the 2011-12 season. Prior to that, he played five seasons with the Chicago Blackhawks and won the Stanley Cup in 2010.

When he felt it was time to stop playing, Byfuglien simply left. There were no heartfelt goodbyes, no farewell tour, no final lap of honor.

“That’s the way it was -- that’s how I picked it,” Byfuglien said. “You just know. It’s your feeling, just the way things were going, I just felt it.

“Injuries played a big part of it, (along with) family, kids. Everything. It’s a long time being away from home, running around doing it, just chasing the game.”

Byfuglien was considered a unique player during his time in the NHL. At 6-foot-5 and 260 pounds in his playing days, he was a football linebacker on skates. He could play both forward and defense and spent most of his time with the Jets on their blue line.

He played 609 games with the Jets and holds the franchise record for goals by a defenseman with 122. He also holds their record for most points in a postseason with 16 (five goals, 11 assists) in 17 games when Winnipeg went to the Western Conference Final in 2018, losing to the Vegas Golden Knights in five games. 

“He was a unicorn, man. I don’t think there’s ever been somebody quite like him,” former Jets forward and captain Andrew Ladd said. “People take pride in Winnipeg that he was part of this franchise and it’s great to have him back.”

Now 41, Byfuglien admitted he had to think about coming back and being part of the festivities surrounding the outdoor game. As someone who likes to blend into the background, Byfuglien knew he would be the main attraction of the alumni event.

His former teammates knew it too. 

“He’s one of a kind, one of one, it’s easy to see why he was a fan favorite,” former Jets center Bryan Little said. “There’s not really anyone that played the game like him and probably not anyone that will. He was just like a force out there and being on his team, you’re glad you were on his team because the guy was a force of nature. He was such a strong guy. He was fun to watch and fun to play with.”

According to former Winnipeg coach Claude Noel, who returned to the bench for the Alumni Game, Byfuglien wasn’t always the easiest player to coach. Noel was Winnipeg’s first coach when it moved from Atlanta and did not know much about Byfuglien. 

“I remember my first year, we had the team from Atalanta and we didn’t have any video and I got a hold of a video of him playing for Atlanta,” Noel said Saturday. “I remember watching a play where Buff was behind the net forechecking in the offensive zone and he was a defenseman. And he’s behind the net and is dangling and then puck comes out and they’re back in our zone. The puck goes into the left corner, and Buff is on his way back, and here he is, swings into the high slot like a center, gets an outlet pass and back he goes on offense. 

“I thought, ‘Oh my god,’ there’s a great light and then there’s a fluorescent green light, and he was on the fluorescent green light program. So, I had to tame that down a little bit. It took us quite a while.”

In the end, Byfuglien turned out to be among Noel’s favorite players during his three seasons here and penciled him into the starting lineup Saturday.  

“He reminds me of a river player, and in the National Hockey League you don’t see those guys; there’s a lot at stake,” Noel said. “On ice, he’s a special player and when you see him in a scrum, he’s got three guys and they’re not moving. You think of the times that you would watch him play and he’d get the puck in the corner and he’d do a reverse hit, it would be like the guy hit a wall. I think people just appreciate what he was able to do.” 

Byfuglien said he doesn’t miss playing. Instead, he’s created a camaraderie with his buddies on unfrozen water. 

He spends his time with family and enjoying the outdoors. He’s an avid hunter and fisherman and once caught a 600-pound, 10-foot sturgeon on the Fraser River in British Columbia with former teammate Matt Hendricks. He also takes part in professional fishing competitions.  

“It’s been good, it’s been fun,” Byfuglien said. “It’s another one of those environments, you stand around a boat and (chat) with the boys and it’s just the same as sitting in the locker room. It’s another little type of family, you get around the boat ramp.

“I’m good.” 

Still, there’s no doubt he’s missed in Winnipeg. 

“Buff is obviously a fan favorite,” former Jets forward Adam Pardy said. “You don’t know what he is going to do and you are kind of hanging on edge of your seat wondering what’s going to happen. 

“He’s always good for some memories or something special he’s going to pull off. We were friends when we were here, and seeing him again it felt like it was just yesterday that we were here. But then you realize it was over 10 years since I’d seen him around this way. 

“It’s great to have him here, and all the fans are excited.”