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  4. title => "Andrew Ladd and Kris Versteeg weigh in on Dustin Byfuglien's NHL future"
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  6. article_body => "<p>Ever since Dustin Byfuglien and the Winnipeg Jets <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/chicago\/blackhawks\/dustin-byfuglien-and-winnipeg-jets-mutually-terminate-contract\" target=\"_blank\">mutually terminated his contract<\/a>,&nbsp;there has been speculation about <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/chicago\/blackhawks\/should-blackhawks-explore-bringing-back-dustin-byfuglien).\u00a0\" target=\"_blank\">Byfuglien\u2019s desire to return to the NHL<\/a>, as well as his physical ability to do so.<\/p>\n<p>Two of Byfuglien\u2019s former teammates chimed in on Monday night. Andrew Ladd and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/chicago\/blackhawks\/kris-versteeg-two-time-stanley-cup-champion-blackhawks-retires\" target=\"_blank\">recently-retired Kris Versteeg<\/a> took to Instagram Live to share stories about \u201cBig Buff\u201d and his potential return to the NHL.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/chicago\/blackhawks\/kris-versteeg-saw-official-grab-puck-after-patrick-kanes-2010-ot-goal\" target=\"_blank\">RELATED:&nbsp;Kris Versteeg saw official grab puck after Patrick Kane's 2010 OT goal<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Ladd: \u201cWe saw Buff yesterday. Me, you, Colin Fraser, Troy Brouwer and Buff had a Zoom hangout.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Versteeg: \u201cWhat do you think, is he going to play again?\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Ladd: \u201cMy guess is he\u2019s 90 percent done.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Versteeg: \u201cHe\u2019s never told me or anything, just by talking. I said I\u2019d be shocked if he played again. But I also said, in two years, if he\u2019s been doing nothing but fishing, he\u2019s the only guy out there that can come back and play again in two years, you know what I mean? Like, there\u2019s no one that can go out, not do s*** and come back and then probably get 30-40 points as a d-man or a forward, whatever position you want to put him at.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Ladd: \u201cYeah. He\u2019s just so...he\u2019s so talented, obviously, but he\u2019s just a freak. Like, so strong. I don\u2019t know, he just does everything. He\u2019s played \u2018forward\/d\u2019...everything.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>So you\u2019re saying there\u2019s a chance!&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>There are a number of reasons to be skeptical about Byfuglien\u2019s return to the ice. He\u2019s 35 years old, hasn\u2019t played in an NHL game in exactly one calendar year, and there are so many questions about his game-shape as well as the potential salary demands of the three-time NHL All-Star.<\/p>\n<p>But as Versteeg put it, if there was one guy who could come back and still ragdoll guys around the ice, it\u2019s probably Byfuglien.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<iframe src=\"https:\/\/art19.com\/shows\/2faee37a-5530-4d82-aae3-4b649e2c74c4\/embed?theme=dark-custom&primary_color=%23cf0a2c&playlist_type=latest\" style=\"width: 100%; height: 200px; border: 0 none;\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe> \n<em><a href=\"https:\/\/smart.link\/5bb676790335f?site_id=Dig_RSN_Chi&creative_id=nbcschi1139&cp_4=www.nbcsports.com&cp_1=washington&cp_2=myteams-nbc-sports&cp_3=nbcschi1139\">Click here<\/a> to download the new MyTeams App by NBC Sports! Receive comprehensive coverage of your teams and stream the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/chicago\/blackhawks\">Blackhawks<\/a> easily on your device.<\/em> \n"
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Blackhawks

Blackhawks

Ever since Dustin Byfuglien and the Winnipeg Jets mutually terminated his contract, there has been speculation about Byfuglien’s desire to return to the NHL, as well as his physical ability to do so.

Two of Byfuglien’s former teammates chimed in on Monday night. Andrew Ladd and recently-retired Kris Versteeg took to Instagram Live to share stories about “Big Buff” and his potential return to the NHL.

RELATED: Kris Versteeg saw official grab puck after Patrick Kane's 2010 OT goal

Ladd: “We saw Buff yesterday. Me, you, Colin Fraser, Troy Brouwer and Buff had a Zoom hangout.” 

Versteeg: “What do you think, is he going to play again?” 

Ladd: “My guess is he’s 90 percent done.”

Versteeg: “He’s never told me or anything, just by talking. I said I’d be shocked if he played again. But I also said, in two years, if he’s been doing nothing but fishing, he’s the only guy out there that can come back and play again in two years, you know what I mean? Like, there’s no one that can go out, not do s*** and come back and then probably get 30-40 points as a d-man or a forward, whatever position you want to put him at.” 

 

Ladd: “Yeah. He’s just so...he’s so talented, obviously, but he’s just a freak. Like, so strong. I don’t know, he just does everything. He’s played ‘forward/d’...everything.” 

So you’re saying there’s a chance! 

There are a number of reasons to be skeptical about Byfuglien’s return to the ice. He’s 35 years old, hasn’t played in an NHL game in exactly one calendar year, and there are so many questions about his game-shape as well as the potential salary demands of the three-time NHL All-Star.

But as Versteeg put it, if there was one guy who could come back and still ragdoll guys around the ice, it’s probably Byfuglien. 

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