Dustin Byfuglien currently rehabbing ankle as he inches closer towards reunion with Jets

It’s been awhile since we’ve updated you about the bizarre Dustin Byfuglien saga, but we’ve finally got some news for you.

The Winnipeg Jets confirmed that the veteran defenceman is currently rehabbing a nagging ankle injury, and keeping in touch with the team during the entire process as he recovers from surgery.

The news signals that he is now itching to mend fences and rejoin the team. As of now, he remains suspended without pay.

“To our understanding, he has progressed to the stage of doing rehab. However, his status with the team remains unchanged,” said the Jets in a statement.

“He is doing rehab at an outside clinic. He is still under suspension.”

The 34-year old has been suspended by the Jets for the entire 2019/2020 season after failing to report to training camp despite being considered healthy enough to do so. Reports emerged this summer that Byfuglien had fallen out of love with the game of hockey, and wanted to spend some time away from the team to assess his playing future. He apparently hid the severity of his ankle injury from them.

The decision to suspend him has come under scrutiny, and even resulted in the NHLPA filing a grievance against the team last month.

If he does return, it is expected that the two sides could undergo an arbitration process to determine his pay, cap hit and other salary related complications.

The Minneapolis native had spent the previous nine seasons with the franchise, dating back to their final season in Atlanta. Over a span of 609 combined games, he has posted 122 goals, 294 assists, 1376 hits and a plus-7 rating.

He was set to enter year four of the five-year, $38 million contract extension he signed back in February 2016.