Photo: Arctic Ice Hockey

The Winnipeg Jets and defenseman Dustin Byfuglien reached an agreement to terminate the 35-year-old’s contract on Friday. He has been suspended all season, taking time to ponder his NHL future. Byfuglien had two years remaining on a five-year contract that carried a $7.6 million cap hit.

Photo: NHL PR

The last three years on the contract included a modified no-trade clause where Byfuglien could submit 14 teams where he could not be traded to.

Dustin Byfuglien did not receive any money from #nhljets as part of agreeing to resolve his grievance and terminate his contract. He walked away from $14 million due to him over this season and next.

— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) April 17, 2020

The Jets, then the Atlanta Thrashers, acquired Byfuglien, forward Ben Eager, and forward Brent Sopel from the Chicago Blackhawks on June 23, 2010, in exchange for a first-round pick, a second-round pick, and forwards Marty Reasoner, Joey Crabb, and Jeremy Morin.

In 869 career NHL games with the Blackhawks, Thrashers, and Jets, Byfuglien posted 177 goals, 525 points, and a -8 rating. He recorded four goals, 31 points, and a +4 rating in his final season with the Jets in 2018-19. In 66 career Stanley Cup Playoff games, he has recorded 21 goals, 50 points, and a -4 rating, including 11 goals, 16 points, and a -4 rating in 22 games during the Blackhawks’ run to the Stanley Cup in 2010. Byfuglien also recorded five goals, 16 points, and a +2 rating in 17 games during the Jets’ run to the 2018 Western Conference Final.

Byfuglien is now an unrestricted free agent but with the trade deadline passed, he would not return until next season if he does at all. However, multiple sources have said that “he has no interest in playing,” according to Sportsnet’s John Shannon.

Kevin Cheveldayoff: “This was never our desired outcome or ending with Dustin.”

— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) April 17, 2020

By Harrison Brown