Detroit Red Wings Trade Rumors: Dustin Byfuglien

Well here's something... Reports are indicating that Winnipeg's two-way threat defenseman Dustin Byfuglien is available for trade..

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Rumor Roundup: Should the Winnipeg Jets trade Dustin Byfuglien? | Post-to-Post

Is this a guy Detroit should take a stab at? Definitely. The reported asking price is a 1st round pick and a roster player, which if that is true, I would certainly hope Kenny is on the phone with Winnipeg before 3pm on Wednesday. Dustin Byfuglien is a big-bodied, offensive threat of a defenseman. At 6'5" 265 lbs, he is an anchor. It's also important to address that Dustin has one of those highly elusive (to Detroit, at least) right-hand shots that this team lacks so much. He is averaging 24 minutes a night and has put up 44 points (13 goals, 31 assists) on 211 shots in 62 games.

I'm not too sure why Winnipeg would want to let go of their best defenseman at a time where they are starting to pick up steam in their division. It seems like they are on track to actually make a run for the playoffs, so this is a bit weird to me. Perhaps they are looking for more help up front, which is why they have reported to ask for a roster player. However, if all this is actually valid I would believe that a guy like Big Buff would leap-frog over players like Edler and Ehrhoff in the trade market. With the big body, wicked RH shot from the point, offensive and defensive capabilities as well as being an efficient crease-clearer... What's not to like? He is signed through the 2015-2016 season with a cap-hit of $5.2 million. If Winnipeg is indeed willing to deal this blue-chip asset, there will be quite the handful of teams chomping at the bit to BUFF-en up their team. /logs off

What does our highly-acclaimed team of experts have to say?

"I think Byfuglien is better than the defensive liability that people say he is."