Dustin Byfuglien wreaked havoc around the net in the Stanley Cup playoffs last season, tying for the team lead with 11 goals as the Chicago Blackhawks won the championship.
Now he is with a new team -- playing a new position. Well, it's not that new. Byfuglien heads into this season adjusting to life with the Atlanta Thrashers and back to his original position on defense. The Thrashers hope he thrives in coach Craig Ramsay's go-go system.
"I enjoy defense more than I enjoy forward," said the 6-5, 265-pound Byfuglien, who was born in Minneapolis and grew up in Roseau, Minn. The Thrashers obtained the 25-year-old in a deal with the salary cap-strapped Blackhawks.
Byfuglien said that he couldn't be happier with the change, although on the surface it's somewhat baffling after the way he had used his speed and size so well at forward. He scored five game-winning goals during the Blackhawks' run to the Stanley Cup.
Thrashers General Manager Rick Dudley talked to Byfuglien about the potential return to defense as soon as the trade was made and Ramsay, who wants his defenseman to contribute to the offense by joining the rush, signed off on the switch before the start of training camp.
"We'd like to see Buff play defense," Ramsay said. "We think he can do it. I think he can bring something to the table."
The Thrashers open the season on Friday against Washington and Byfuglien played in just two of the six preseason games because of a tender ankle. But he says the return to his old position hasn't been a difficult transition despite the shortage of game action.
"I want to establish myself as a defenseman," Byfuglien said. "That's what I always played coming up. I think I did a good job at forward in Chicago, but I think I can be the player on defense that I was at forward. I'd like to add that tool to my bag. I think I'll fit in here very well on defense."
