Dustin Byfuglien, as you may have heard, is an integral part of the Winnipeg Jets success in this playoff run. But could he soon be running out of steam?
The Winnipeg Jets need Dustin Byfuglien. They really do. He was their best player in the first round, and good defense is always key. Byfuglien is playing in his ninth playoff game later this afternoon, which is the longest playoff run he’s had since 2009-2010 Cup run with Chicago.
Nine playoff games isn’t a ton, but it’s a good amount. The issue that may arise, however, lies within his minutes. It should be noted, however, that Byfuglien played almost 500 more minutes during the regular season a year ago. He missed a bit of time in December with a lower-body injury.
That’s good! He’s still about 260 minutes shy of where he hit last season. That break is going to be integral. It’s easy to forget Big Buff is already 33, and the team’s second oldest blueliner (Tobias Enstrom is 33 as well, and a few months ahead). Total minutes is important, but remember, this team isn’t used to playing games in May.
Three seasons ago, the Winnipeg Jets made the playoffs, but were swept. That doesn’t exactly extend the season and cut into your offseason recovery time. This postseason is paramount! Make it work, it doesn’t matter how. You don’t want to run Byfuglien into the ground, but if it gets you a Stanley Cup, you do it.
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The Winnipeg Jets have Byfuglien for three more seasons with a 7.6 million dollar cap hit, so he’s important to the franchise moving forward. He plays a hard game, and even the biggest of bodies wear down eventually.
Byfuglien doesn’t appear to be slowing down this postseason, but logging the sixth most minutes per game among second-round players is tough on a 33 year old.
He’s the only player over the age of thirty in that top 6. Buff is playing big, important minutes on the top pair. This is more worry than actual analysis. But 26:55 minutes a night is a lot. In fact, that number would have led the league this season.
It’s not uncommon for playoff teams to lean on their defenders. Drew Doughty has been pushing 30 minutes a night into June for years now, but he’s still alive and kicking. He’s also 28 and in his theoretical prime.
If this goes to a Game 7, which seems supremely likely at this point, the Winnipeg Jets and Paul Maurice will need to push Byfuglien further than they’d like. Will that leave him anything in the tank for a Conference Final, and then possibly a Stanley Cup Final? Maybe!
In an ideal world, you’d like to get him a rest. Taking a 5-0 lead into the third and letting Byfuglien play about four minutes in the final period sounds nice. Score early, take the crowd out of it. Wouldn’t that be a dream?
I know Dustin Byfuglien seems invincible, and he very well may be. But should we be worrying that on the back nine of his career, maybe he isn’t?
*Editor’s Note: Hey I’m really, personally sorry about all of the golf references and puns. I will sincerely try to keep it to a minimum. I don’t even like golf. Well, it’s fun to play. But I’m not tuning into the Master’s.