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That's why there's such value in having a lineup full of players with versatility. Players with more rounded skill sets can be plugged into any kind of situation. Some players' versatility goes above and beyond, however.

Dustin Byfuglien of the Winnipeg Jets and Brent Burns of the San Jose Sharks may be among the most versatile players in the league and that is going to be put to the test this season. Both have spent time in their NHL careers at defense and forward and have had success at both positions.

This season, they'll kind of be trading places.

The Jets moved Byfuglien from his defense position to forward midway through last season. It was a move that did not seem all that welcome to Byfuglien, who has been said to prefer defense, but he does offer a unique weapon (and bigger body) for the team's top six.

Burns, meanwhile, is headed back to the blue line. He was moved up to forward to great results late in the 2012-13 season. He played the entire 2013-14 campaign up front as well and proved a valuable asset on one of the league's most productive teams.

After Dan Boyle was not brought back this summer, the Sharks had a hole in their D corps again and Burns, who has played on the back end for most of his career, was the easiest to insert. The Sharks are also expecting big things from this switch.







The Sharks will hope Brent Burns can be an All-Star again on defense. (USATSI)







These moves are obviously not made lightly. Both Burns and Byfuglien have proven to be extremely valuable assets to their team and these moves can have a large impact on what these teams are able to do.

For the Sharks, they could miss Burns' production up front as he scored a career-high 22 goals and 48 points while spending a lot of time with Joe Thornton. Had he stayed at forward, there's a good chance Burns could have been a 30-goal scorer as one of the most imposing power forwards in the league at 6-feet-5 and 230 pounds. That kind of potential is tough to give up.

What the Sharks will gain is probably four to five minutes per game of Burns being on the ice. He has also been a really productive blueliner with 83 points in his past two full seasons on defense, which included an All-Star Game appearance in 2011. That's what the Sharks want to see him be again after more than a season away from his natural position.

"It will take him a little bit just to get comfortable there again," Sharks head coach Todd McLellan told the San Jose Mercury News. "But, when I say a little bit, we're not talking about Christmas. By the time we've done the exhibition season, he'll be an All-Star defenseman again."

If Burns can get to that level again, it could go a long way for the Sharks. Having lost Boyle by choice, the Sharks are going to need points from the back end. That's where Burns should excel. Being able to use him with multiple lines as opposed to just one could make for an especially dangerous attack.

The success of the move also depends on who the Sharks are able to replace Burns with in the top six. That job very well could go to a youngster like Matt Nieto, a speedy winger with some skill. San Jose should also be looking for a year of full health from Tomas Hertl, which adds to the depth up front.

The Jets are in a similar dilemma. Now that they've moved Byfuglien from defense on a more permanent basis, how do they replace him?

Before the switch, made by Claude Noel not terribly long before he was fired and maintained by current head coach Paul Maurice, Byfuglien was logging anywhere from 25 to 31 minutes a game. As a forward, that dipped below 20 minutes per game.

Does Byfuglien give the Jets enough as a forward? Or would he be able to do more as a defenseman?

Now, neither Burns nor Byfuglien are world beaters when it comes to defending, but their offensive skills can be a huge weapon on the back end. Not just when it comes to producing in the offensive zone. Defensemen with better offensive skills can help when it comes to getting out of the zone and making good decisions with the puck to aid transition as the NHL goes more and more toward being a rush league.

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