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Jets plan to leave Byfuglien at forward for now

Winnipeg Jets v Columbus Blue Jackets

COLUMBUS, OH - DECEMBER 16: Dustin Byfuglien #33 of the Winnipeg Jets controls the puck during the game against the Columbus Blue Jackets on December 16, 2013 at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio.

Kirk Irwin

Mere days before he was fired, Winnipeg Jets coach Claude Noel decided to move Dustin Byfuglien from the blueline to the right wing in an effort to break the team out of its slump.

It was a bold move, even if Byfuglien previously served as a winger with the Chicago Blackhawks. Since then Paul Maurice has taken over as the Jets’ new bench boss, but he’s decided to keep Noel’s experiment going.

“Can you imagine having a guy that’s that big, that can move like that and with hands like that, with some of his creative instincts,” Maurice told the Winnipeg Sun. “I’m going to leave him there until I see something that I need to change.

“That may be next week, it may be next month, it may be never. I’m not making a decision until I need to.”

Byfuglien is out of practice in his new role and consequently doesn’t feel comfortable in it, but he sees it as a fun challenge. Winnipeg will play against Calgary on Thursday.

Related:

Jets GM could ‘maybe move some pieces’

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