Maurice: Byfuglien suspension 'absolutely procedural,' he was aware

Paul Maurice did his best to quell any potential speculation about Dustin Byfuglien's suspension.

On Sunday, the Winnipeg Jets head coach addressed the action the club took toward the veteran defenseman Saturday evening amid Byfuglien's absence from the team.

"It was absolutely procedural and Dustin was aware of it," Maurice told reporters Sunday.

The Jets suspended Byfuglien for failing to report to training camp. If the gargantuan blue-liner doesn't report by the first day of the season, Winnipeg will lose his cap hit until he returns.

Last Wednesday, TSN's Bob McKenzie reported Byfuglien was mulling his NHL future while on personal leave, which the club said he'd been granted Sept. 13.

The Jets didn't provide a reason for Byfuglien's request, but Maurice said at the time that the rearguard was "going to be fine" and that it was "nothing sinister."

Although Byfuglien's contract is temporarily off the books, he has two years remaining on his current deal at a cap hit of $7.6 million.

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