The Winnipeg Sun spoke extensively with defenceman Dustin Byfuglien in Minnesota, ranging from his much-publicized weight issues to his thoughts on a Norris Trophy. Byfuglien isn't concerned about the rampant speculation around the Twitter-verse that he's packed on the pounds.
"I'm right around the same," said Byfuglien, who didn't share the actual number but is listed at 265 pounds on the Jets' official website. "Every year it's always the same stuff and somebody is always going to comment on something. For me, it's my weight. I sit and smile at it. It doesn't matter, as long as I'm able to move and go."
The Sun indicates after watching him skate, Byfuglien is moving well and doesn't look any heavier than he was last season.
In case you were wondering, Byfuglien's teammates aren't that concerned by what he's tipping the scales at.
"I don't care if he's 350 pounds," said Jets winger Blake Wheeler. "He's still one of the best players out there and one of the best defencemen in the league. People can be critical, but at the end of the day, he gets the job done. He's a winner and that's all that matters to me.
"He's kind of an X-factor that I don't know if any one else in the league has. He's a one-of-a-kind guy. You can't get him off the puck and his skill level is out of this world. When he's playing his game, he's unstoppable and when he's going, it makes our team that much better."
Byfuglien, on working his way into the Norris Trophy discussion one day: "You think about it. It's always been a thought that it would be nice to win, but it's not something I push to do. I go out there, I do my job and I just have fun with the boys."
On learning from longtime NHLer and Jets assistant coach Charlie Huddy: "He's been there and done so much. He's been around so many great players. Any little details he gives you, he's trying to help and making you better. You take what he gives you and he can help you in so many ways."
On his laid-back attitude often being perceived by some as a lack of caring, which couldn't be further from the truth. He wants to win badly, but has an innate ability to keep things in perspective.
"Hockey is something that I enjoy. It's my playground," said Byfuglien. "You go out there and do what you do, sometimes things work and sometimes they don't. That's what is fun about it."
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