Welcome home Buff: 5 things to watch in Jets vs Bruins game

Thursday night's game between the Boston Bruins and the Winnipeg Jets at the MTS Centre is shaping up to be an energetic and aggressive game. Jets fans will be treated to an original six team match up and it will be the first time Dustin Byfuglien will make an appearance in front of the home crowd since signing his new five-year contract extension on Monday.

Add to that, the Bruins land in Winnipeg a bruised group after getting beaten up at TD Garden on Tuesday night 9-2 by the Los Angeles Kings and the traditionally physical Bruins will be coming into town with a big chip on their shoulders.

The Jets only have a couple more chances to improve their home record this month. Thursday's game will be the team's third of only four games at home this month and their home record of 13-12-1 is just not good enough to have them contending for the playoffs.

Welcome home

Maybe it was just the warm steam rushing into the cold Winnipeg winter air coming off of the four towers at Portage and Main, but from across the Red River on Monday it could have been mistaken for the city's collective sigh after news broke that All-Star defender Dustin Byfuglien signed a brand new contract extension.

Blowing in the wind since last year's NHL entry draft, was rampant speculation the Jets needed to or would trade their number one defenceman Byfuglien. Nothing happened at the draft, things were quiet during the summer months, nothing during training camp and then all season long fans have been waiting on pins and needles as Byfuglien continued to play at an incredibly high level. He continued to put up points (15 goals and 18 assists, good for third on the team) and he turned multiple games in the Jets' favour by what looked like his own sheer will, physical force and determination. Armed with his new five-year $38 million contract, expect at least a couple standing O's for Big Buff on Thursday night.

Ladd watch

Now that the Dustin Byfuglien contract situation is resolved, it gives GM Kevin Cheveldayoff a slightly better picture of what is left for the other players that are coming up on the end of their current contracts, namely restricted free agents Jacob Trouba, Adam Lowry, Joel Armia and Mark Scheifele. The Jets had almost $12 million in cap space this year but Byfuglien's new deal and the new contracts for youngsters coming off their entry level contracts will eat into that cushion, which all leads to the question, is there enough left to keep captain Andrew Ladd happy?

There is just over two weeks left for Ladd and Cheveldayoff to circle back - to see if there is a number and term that can work for both sides - before needing to make a decision on trading Ladd away.

Dependable Drew returns

Drew Stafford makes his return to the lineup Thursday night after serving a one-game suspension for high sticking Colorado Avalanche defenceman Nick Holden in the face in Saturday's game in Denver. Stafford had been battling near the Avalanche blue line for the puck when the ref blew the whistle to call Holden for hooking, Stafford spun around with one hand on his stick and caught Holden in the face.

Stafford has been very dependable for the Jets this season, he's sixth in team scoring and has put up 28 points and his 16 goals are good for second on the club. He's also shown he has the versatility to play in many roles and situations, working his way up the roster this season from the third line to the first.

Loui, Loui

Jets fans in Winnipeg have - rightfully so - been keeping a close eye on the contract situations of their key leaders, but as you've heard every player say, hockey is a business and the situation Ladd is in now is not unique to him or the Jets. Almost every team has at least one question mark heading up to the trade deadline.

For the Boston Bruins, one of their biggest puzzle pieces is Loui Eriksson. Eriksson was a big piece that came to Boston from Dallas in the Tyler Seguin deal back in 2013. The Swedish winger didn't have the best two seasons to begin his time in Boston but has 16 goals and 40 points in 53 games this year. The 30-year-old is not quite on pace to match his best seasons from five years ago when he had three consecutive campaigns with more than 70 points, but it is good enough for second in team scoring. Plus the Bruins are in a wildcard spot in the east, so they might not want to deal one of their best wingers while they are making a playoff push.

Bergeron

Patrice Bergeron might not be as well known as some of the other elite centres in the NHL, but there is no denying what the Bruins forward brings to the table. He's an elite two way pivot, he has slick hands with the puck and is always aggressive in the opposition's end of the ice.

Bergeron's 19 goals and 45 points leads the Bruins offence and has the Bruins number one centre in the top 20 in the NHL. The three time Selke Trophy winner for best defensive forward in the league will be leading an angry Bruins squad that is looking for redemption after their 9-2 embarrassment Tuesday night.