Dustin Byfuglien displayed the unique ability to switch from defense to offense for the Chicago Blackhawks in the 2009-10 Stanley Cup. His versatility helped the Blackhawks take home Lord Stanley.
That dominance and passion he displayed made him the diamond in the rough that the Atlanta Thrashers coveted and gave up a number one draft choice and a high potential prospect for.
In the Stanley Cup playoffs, Byfuglien’s size, speed and aggressiveness were well-utilized creating constant mismatches for the opposition.
At 6’4'' and 260 pounds, defenders in the slot could not block Byfuglien out and when playing defense his size, strength and mobility not to mention his shot create another set of problems for opposing teams.
Make no mistake the skill and mental dexterity to effectively transition from a forward to defenseman is not easy to master and has not been successfully done many times in the history of the NHL.
Players like, Doug Harvey Red Kelly, JC Trembley, Pat Stapleton, Mark Howe and Larry Robinson were a few who successfully made the transition.
The position of defense is the second toug ...
Read Full Article at Bleacher Report - NHL
Article written by Warren Shaw
Dustin Byfluglien Could Turn Into a All-Star Defenseman With Atlanta
August 27th, 2010 by Warren Shaw Leave a reply »
Advertisement