A few rare smiles crossed Dustin Byfuglien’s face as reporters crowded around him after practice Tuesday

WINNIPEG - A few rare smiles crossed Dustin Byfuglien’s face as reporters crowded around him after practice Tuesday. Vince Carter Jersey .The Winnipeg Jets defenceman is enjoying a season thats brought him accolades from the NHL and praise from his teammates and coach for being a special player.The NHL’s first star of the week after collecting six points in four games, Byfuglien will take part in the league’s all-star game in Columbus, Ohio, this weekend.The recognition is coming during a season he says has him feeling more confident and settled in his personal and professional life.Byfuglien was married last summer to long-time girlfriend Emily Hendry, and in early December head coach Paul Maurice moved him from forward to his preferred position on defence after injuries felled a number of blue-liners.I think making her my wife finally has helped out and made things good, he said with a smile. I think just all around. Just going back to defence, I just like getting out of my bed and just going to work. It’s something that I enjoy and just kept going with it.The Jets (25-14-8) are on a four-game win streak as they get set to host Columbus (20-21-3) on Wednesday for their last game before the all-star break. They hold the first wild-card spot in the Western Conference, five points ahead of Calgary.The 29-year-old Byfuglien said there’s absolutely no doubt he’s playing better defence than in the past.Former Jets head coach Claude Noel had moved Byfuglien to forward in early January 2014. When Noel was fired a few days later and replaced by Maurice, the new coach kept him in that spot.Byfuglien noted the Jets have been playing different systems with Maurice and that’s had an impact on everyone.As a team we’ve changed our game so much, he said. The way we play, and the way we played back then, it’s way different. We feed off each other and you can make plays.And the six-foot-five, 260-pound Byfuglien has been making plays and putting up points.In 47 games, he has 12 goals and 19 assists for 31 points. But 20 of those points have come in the 21 games he’s played defence since Dec. 5.He’s unlike anyone, Jets forward Blake Wheeler said of Byfuglien. He’s special in a lot of ways.That includes Byfuglien’s physical presence, but also his instincts on the ice and the way he reads plays and intercepts pucks, Wheeler explained.He’s been dominant since he’s been back on (defence) especially, and he’s been a huge reason for our success.Byfuglien hasn’t really changed this season, but he may be feeling better about the way his game is viewed, Wheeler said.I think he’s just comfortable now and I think he feels appreciated, he said. I think he felt under-appreciated before, you know, with a lot of the things he does and the things he tries to do.It can be frustrating as a player to come to work everyday and, kind of, it’s almost like a puppy. You hit him on the head and he keeps coming back for love, and if you don’t get it, it can sometimes wear on you a little bit.I think this year he feels appreciated, he feels like what he does is impactful on what we’re trying to do as a team.Byfuglien said he’s been following what Maurice has told him to do since he switched back to defence.Little things. Doing what I do and not get out of the game plan, Byfuglien said. Just stick with it and everything will just come.The player fans love to call Big Buff has also turned up his physical game.Rookie defenceman Ben Chiarot has been paired with Byfuglien and said the veteran is helping him make the transition. His friends and family ask him what Byfuglien is like and he tells them he’s a fun guy who likes to joke around on and off the ice.He also enjoys watching Byfuglien’s physical game.He’s so strong and so much bigger than everyone else, he just manhandles guys out there, Chiarot said. It’s like he’s playing with kids sometimes, so that’s fun to watch and it’s been impressive to see.Maurice said it might not be fair to say Byfuglien is exceeding his expectations on the blue-line.There’s never been a doubt that he’s a special player, he said. He can really do whatever he sets his mind to do.What the future holds for Byfuglien really depends on how having all the defencemen healthy will affect the minutes played, he said. The Blue Jackets contest may feature the return of defenceman Jacob Trouba, who’s missed 16 games with an upper-body injury. Trouba practised Tuesday and is awaiting medical clearance. He’s the last of four key defencemen to return after the rash of injuries.I’m in no hurry to get him out of there by any means, Maurice said. He’s a defenceman right now and he’s one of the best in the league right now so there’s no need to change that.Note: The Jets and CFLs Blue Bombers announced Tuesday that they were unable to finalize a date to host the Heritage Classic outdoor game at Investors Group Field next season and are very hopeful that a date can be secured early in the 2016-17 season. C.J. Miles Jersey . 2015 Oscar nomination pending. Here is an open letter from Steven Stamkos to his fans: When I shot this final Moment Zero film last August, it was a fun few days on set with Coke Zero and Jordan Eberle in my hometown of Markham. Toronto Raptors Jerseys .com) - Bradley Beal deposited a season-high 33 points and John Wall posted another double-double as the Washington Wizards went on the road and beat the Houston Rockets, 104-103. http://www.nbaraptorsonline.com/Authentic-OG-Anunoby-Raptors-Jersey/ .com) - The Oklahoma City Thunder will try to get back on track Monday night when they welcome the Minnesota Timberwolves to Chesapeake Energy Arena.In a stunning turn of events, the best basketball player on the planet has changed teams through free agency. Numbers Game breaks down the biggest move of the NBA summer, one of the most remarkable free agent moves in NBA history. The Cavaliers Get: SF LeBron James. James, 29, has been the best player in basketball over the past decade. In 11 NBA seasons, hes averaging 27.5 points, 7.2 rebounds, 6.9 assists and 1.7 steals per game. In the history of the NBA, there are three other players that have averaged at least 25 points, five rebounds and five assists per game and the list is spectacular: Michael Jordan, Jerry West and Oscar Robertson. If LeBron is not at the peak of his powers, hes awfully close. Hes shot 56.6% from the field over the past two seasons and last seasons True Shooting Percentage (combining twos, threes and free throws) of 64.9% was the best of his career. As James has improved his jump shot, hes become ever more dangerous offensively because, in the open floor, hes still a finisher without peer, moving a 6-foot-8, 260-pound frame with unmatched athleticism and control. Part of the reason that James has been the best in the league is that he has a toolbox that others cant compete with. No one else that size can move like LeBron. Thats not to diminish his game, because its more than merely bulling his way to the basket. Hes as unselfish with the ball as any NBA superstar, can play effectively anywhere on the floor when needed and has expanded his offensive repertoire, adding more post-ups in recent years. Undoubtedly, LeBron is great. An all-timer. But there have been signs of age catching up to him, if ever-so-slightly. Hes been extremely durable throughout his career, never missing more than seven games in a season, but his back acted up at times last season and thats worth keeping an eye on, lest we be fooled into believing that hes superhuman. Returning to Cleveland, James is going to invigorate a franchise that has been a rudderless mess since he left in 2010. As the roster is currently constructed, PG Kyrie Irving, SG Dion Waiters, PF Tristan Thompson and C Anderson Varejao could easily surround James in the starting lineup. But, the Cavs may try to move Waiters, hoping to keep first overall pick Andrew Wiggins, in an attempt to land PF Kevin Love from the Minnesota Timberwolves. Even if Wiggins has to be moved to get that deal done, the Cavs would have an excellent starting five. One of the facets that James brings to a team is that he makes any team instantly desirable as a destination. Players that want to win recognize the opportunity to do that with LeBron, who won two titles and lost two NBA Finals in four seasons wwith the Miami Heat. Jonas Valanciunas Jersey. Adding someone like Love to a team that has James and an up-and-coming point guard like Irving is enough to be the team to beat in the Eastern Conference. For a team that won 33 games last season, its a dramatic upturn in their fortunes. But, worry about Love when Love joins the Cavs. James arrival makes the Cavaliers a playoff team and they have the young assets, gained through top draft picks, to either surround James with a capable supporting cast or to move some of those pieces in order to accelerate the plans. Its a difficult weight to bear, as the player deemed to be the best on the planet. LeBron enjoyed his time and success in Miami, but there may have been something pushing him in that direction, away from Cleveland in the first place, to chase championship rings because, like every other challenger to the throne, he sees Michael Jordans six championship rings and knows thats the benchmark in the modern era. Maybe LeBron will get to six championship rings someday. Depending on how the Cavaliers roster shakes out, its certainly feasible that they will be contenders every year that James is there. But, when it comes to an enduring legacy, maybe it means more to an Akron, Ohio kid to win one for Cleveland, where there hasnt been a championship in forever (the Browns last won the NFL title in 1964) and maybe LeBron, having been there and done that, feels like he can lead a Cleveland team to a title. Whatever the reason, and LeBron was much more eloquent and self-aware in expressing this decision, the balance of power has changed in the NBA. For the first time since 2009-2010, the Cavs will be good again and, depending on who joins LeBron, they could be great, just like that. Conversely, the Miami Heat are going to be starting over. With LeBron leaving, Chris Bosh is reportedly on his way to Houston, leaving a 32-year-old Dwyane Wade to pick up the pieces. Wade opted out of his contract, too, so he could always move on, but the opportunity to get paid is going to rest with the Heat, who currently have two players under contract for next season. Lots of work to do and it wont be easy. South Beach might be a great lure, but pulling together a roster, virtually from scratch, will be a challenge. When the best player in the sport willingly makes a move to another team, it can send shockwaves through the sports world. This one will have ripple effects, to be felt throughout the summer, as the new NBA landscape is dictated by LeBrons decision to go home. Scott Cullen can be reached at Scott.Cullen@bellmedia.ca and followed on Twitter at http://twitter.com/tsnscottcullen. For more, check out TSN Fantasy on Facebook. Cheap Canadiens Jerseys Cheap Predators Jerseys Cheap Devils Jerseys Cheap Islanders Jerseys Cheap Rangers Jerseys Cheap Senators Jerseys Cheap Flyers Jerseys Cheap Penguins Jerseys Cheap Sharks Jerseys Cheap Blues Jerseys Cheap Lightning Jerseys Cheap Maple Leafs Jerseys Cheap Canucks Jerseys Cheap Golden Knights Jerseys Cheap Capitals Jerseys Cheap Winnipeg Jets Jerseys ' ' '