You have to be daft to not think that the leadership of Andrew Ladd and the attitude of Dustin Byfuglien aren’t two big reasons that the Thrashers have been so successful this season. Luckily, Thrashers General Manager Rick Dudley is not daft. Far from it.
↵According to Craig Custance of The Sporting News, Byfuglien’s agent has already begun talks with the team for an extension, as has Andrew Ladd’s. Both players are restricted free agents after this season, meaning that the Thrashers have first crack and signing them after the end of the season. There’s no reason for the team to wait that long, and about 36 and 31 reasons for Byfuglien and Ladd to re-sign, respectively. Those’re their point totals – both shaping up to the best of their careers.
↵Byfuglien’s already pulling $3 million dollars this season, and that’s playing out the end of a contract that was signed before the Cup, not just before this season. The price is going to go up, but honestly, with the production that we’re seeing from him and the fact that the Thrashers have more than enough cap space, why wouldn’t they re-sign him to a long term deal?