What Dustin Byfuglien Has Riding on the 2009-2010 Season

Dustin Byfuglien was a no-name at the start of the 2008-2009 season for the Chicago Blackhawks. By the end of the year, he was one of the star players for the Hawks.

Who is Dustin Byfuglien?

He is the enforcer. The goal scorer. He is everything Joel Quenneville could want in a hockey player.

Dustin Byfuglien has the most riding on the 2009-2010 season.

Byfuglien last season had 15 goals, 16 assists, and 31 points in 77 games for the young and up-and-coming Blackhawks.

He needs to keep up the good work and not slump like other Chicago players did in their respective sports. (I'm talking about you, Alfonso Soriano, Milton Bradley, and Geovany Soto.)

If Byfuglien has a bad season, he could be run out of town. His right to play in Chicago is at stake.

New York, Chicago, and LA are the sports towns that put a lot of pressure on their athletes. They need to perform at their levels of expectations, or they will be trashed by the media and fans alike.

If Byfuglien gets off to a bad start this season, it could be a very long 2009-2010 if the Hawks decide to keep him. If they don't, it could be a very short one.

The exact start he needs? I don’t know. It has to be some kind of start that shows he is willing to hustle and be the kind of player Chicago knows he can be.