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WINNIPEG -- Hes certainly not what you would call reed thin but a trimmer Dustin Byfuglien says hes ready to do his part to make the Winnipeg Jets a playoff team. The big blue-liner is a man of few words and shrugged off any suggestion he had worked a lot harder to get in shape. "I was on the ice a little bit more, doing what I had to do to come to camp ready to go," he said as Jets training camp opened this week. "When I was on the ice I just did a little bit more skating ... working on the edges and the stick handling and puck movement, just a little bit more than I used to do." At six foot five and a listed weight of 265 pounds, Byfuglien has a booming shot and is the kind of impact player that can make or break the teams playoff hopes. Hes part of a core group of players the Jets have kept together as they prepare for a full season in a new division and a new conference. Byfuglien believes a strong foundation is key for the team to succeed. "Its big, I mean you look at Chicago,`he said. "Theyve kept their core together for a long time." Byfuglien has experience in the Windy City, winning a Stanley Cup with the Blackhawks in 2010. He was drafted by Chicago in 2003 and was dealt to the Atlanta Thrashers in June 2010, the year before they moved to Winnipeg. Byfuglien was a defenceman when drafted but the Blackhawks tried to turn him into a forward. He moved back to defence with the Thrashers and has spent most of his time with the Jets in that role. In 2011-12, he was the second highest-scoring defenceman in the NHL with 53 points in just 66 games. Last season he came in at No. 11 on the list with 28 points in 43 games. He was also one of four Jets invited to the U.S. Olympic hockey orientation camp this year in advance of the Sochi Olympics. Coach Claude Noel said he`d like to see a little more consistency from Byfuglien, although he adds that hes not the only player who needs to work on that aspect of the game. Byfuglien said he understands and that hes ready to work hard to be at his best in every game. "Same as every year," he said. "Try to be at the top. Try to be the best player I can be and try to take over games." Few players have the ability to take control of the play the way Byfuglien can. He can use his size to great advantage and has the versatility and scoring touch to make a big difference. "When hes on top of his game hes one of the best in the league," said fellow defenceman Zach Bogosian. "Hes a very special player." Last year there was the pre-season distraction of an impaired boating charge in his home state of Minnesota on top of an abbreviated camp and lockout-shortened season. Byfuglien said its nice not to have any distractions this season. "Absolutely. Things happen and youve got to deal with it." He added that there is really only one formula for success this season if the Jets want to make the playoffs -- something the franchise managed only once in 2007 in Atlanta. "All 20 guys playing every night and battling and knowing whats at stake and knowing that all we want to do is make that first playoff round, and it all sets itself up from there." Blake Wheeler Jets Jersey . The Redskins announced Monday that the quarterback who led the team to the Super Bowl championship in the 1987 season will serve as a personnel executive. Dale Hawerchuk Jersey . Scrivens stopped 48 shots and captain Andrew Ference scored in overtime as the Oilers pulled off a 4-3 upset of the Anaheim Ducks on Friday. http://www.jetsauthentic.com/authentic-blake-wheeler-jets-jersey/ . "Its way better than running gassers, thats for sure," the inside linebacker said Monday, when the Chargers started their third and final week of organized team activities, which are practices in shorts, jerseys and helmets. Laurent Brossoit Jersey . Johansen scored twice and Derek MacKenzie, Brandon Dubinsky and Cam Atkinson also had goals to lead the Blue Jackets to a 5-2 victory over the Washington Capitals on Thursday night, ending a three-game losing skid. Keith Tkachuk Jets Jersey . The 10-year deal the league and players agreed to that ended the 2011 lockout gave either side the right to opt out after six years. With the league projecting financial growth, there has been speculation that players will take that option in three years, especially since a new national TV contract will be in place by then.SUNRISE, Fla. -- Tim Thomas wanted back in the NHL. The Florida Panthers wanted goaltending help. It might be a perfect match. The two-time Vezina Trophy winner agreed to a tryout deal with the Panthers on Monday, nearly a year and a half removed from his last game in the NHL. Thomas will be on the ice with Florida for practice Tuesday, and Panthers general manager Dale Tallon said his talks with the star of Bostons run to the 2011 Stanley Cup convinced him that the move was right. "He really wants to play and he really wants to lead and he really wants to be the starter and he wants to win and he wants to win now," Tallon said Monday while the Panthers faced Nashville in a preseason doubleheader. "I was very impressed with him. His attitude is terrific. I liked everything that he had to say and I liked his approach. We try to strive to get better every day and I think a good Tim Thomas makes us a better team." Thomas is expected to address reporters Tuesday, team officials said. Floridas projected starter in goal is Jacob Markstrom, the 23-year-old Swede who went 8-14-1 with a 3.22 goals-against average last season. Markstroms GAA was tops on the Panthers -- but just 44th in the NHL among regular goalies. So with Markstroms relative level of inexperience -- hes made only 29 NHL starts -- plus the departure of free agent Jose Theodore and veteran Scott Clemmensen needing at least a couple more weeks to recover from knee surgery, the Panthers made it known they wanted some help.dddddddddddd "Hes a two-time Vezina Trophy winner, Conn Smythe Trophy winner and we need goaltending," Tallon said. "We need somebody to help us get to where we need to go. Right now, its Tim Thomas. ... The more competition you have for spots internally, the better off your team will be. Its a wide-open competition. Let the best man win." In parts of eight NHL seasons, Thomas has a 2.48 goals-against average, stopping just over 92 per cent of the shots he has faced. Thomas wrote on his Facebook page in 2012 that he was taking a season off from hockey to focus on "friends, family and faith." He also made news by not joining the Bruins when they visited the White House in celebration of their Stanley Cup victory, saying he chose to skip the event because the "federal government has grown out of control." Tallon said he was not worried about Thomas layoff or any other on-ice issue. "Hes in good shape and hes eager to go," Tallon said. "He worked extremely hard all year. Mentally and physically, hes very strong and hes ready to compete for a starting position here." ' ' '