After being drafted by the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2007, Dustin Jeffrey went on to spend almost seven years with the Penguins organization before being claimed by the Dallas Stars at the quarter pole of the 2013-14 season.  He proved to be a useful and versatile acquisition, helping the Texas Stars capture a Calder Cup Championship later that year, while being a key contributor to the success of both the Utica Comets and Bridgeport Sound Tigers during the 2014-15 season.

Jeffrey split the balance of the 2013-14 campaign between Dallas and their AHL affiliate in Texas, including a highly successful playoff run that was capped off by a Calder Cup Championship.  He enjoyed his time in Texas and treasures the opportunity to win a championship with the Stars.  “Any time you can win a championship at whatever level, it’s going to mean a lot to you and stays with you forever,” said Jeffrey.  “After we (Dallas) lost out in the first round of the playoffs, I was assigned to Texas.  It was a great experience.  It’s an awesome, beautiful city and we really enjoyed our time there.  Going to the Finals and playing in St. John’s, they have great fans and a great building.  To come out with a victory was pretty sweet.

With the hopes of establishing himself full-time at the NHL level, after 24 games with Dallas in 2013-14, Jeffrey followed his former Texas Stars coach Willie Desjardins to the Vancouver Canucks organization last off-season.  “It’s a situation, where our coach in Texas (Willie Desjardins) took the job in Vancouver, so I thought it would be a good situation to play for someone that knows what I can do and knows what I can bring to a team.  Although it didn’t quite work out this year, I just have to be ready.”

Despite signing with the Canucks in the summer of 2014, Jeffrey was traded to the New York Islanders at this year’s NHL Trade Deadline, and finished the season with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers, the Islanders’ AHL affiliate.  It was a year of change for Dustin, transitioning to three new organizations over the past calendar.  “Moving three quarters of the way through the year to a different organization is a change but its something I’ve been able to do. I did it last year as well and it’s just something that comes with the job.”  However, Jeffrey remains focused on parleying his next opportunity to a full-time gig in the NHL. “It’s simply about opportunity and taking advantage of it,” explained Jeffrey. “I think it’s disappointing last year playing 35 NHL games and not playing any this year, but for myself, it’s just a matter of staying focused and being ready for the next opportunity when it comes.”

Jeffrey had an impressive season split between Utica and Bridgeport, posting 64 points in 69 games, nearly a point-per-game rate.  He was heavily relied upon to provide both offense and leadership within both organizations. “I’m playing a lot of powerplay minutes, a lot of penalty kill minutes, a lot that way. I think when you’re playing in the situation where you are competing for a playoff spot and working that way, you might not play as much of a role with the players that we had there. Here (in Bridgeport), we were trying to win hockey games, trying to disrupt other teams. We were still playing for something.” Jeffrey displayed a strong two-way game, excelled at the faceoff circle, and is a natural playmaker.

Any hockey player growing up dreams of scoring their first NHL goal and envisions that moment years before it comes to fruition.  Jeffrey could not have written a better script to depict his first NHL goal. “I’ll always remember being in Boston, at that building, in front of those fans, scoring that goal. It was a very cool experience for myself and to do it so soon after I was recalled, it was so surreal.”  It occurred on New Year’s Day in 2009, mere days after debuting with the Pittsburgh Penguins. “I just remember the 15 games I played my first season of my first year pro, it didn’t seem like it was real. It came so quick into my professional career. I don’t even know if I was able to fully take it in, but it comes back every time you’re playing with guys that go up and play their first game.”

Jeffrey had a unique experience during the 2012-13 NHL Lockout, where we signed with Zagreb Medvescak of the Austrian League (recently joined Russia’s Kontinental Hockey League). Jeffrey has fond memories of playing in Croatia and speaks highly of his experience overseas. “I really enjoyed it.  I was only there for about eight weeks.”  It was a smooth transition for the Sarnia, Ontario native, as virtually half of the team was comprised of North American talent. “There were about 13 or 14 North American guys with quite a few English speaking people over there so it made the transition that much easier.”

While both the New York Islanders and Bridgeport Sound Tigers have finished their respective seasons, Jeffrey looks forward to a productive off-season, training and preparing for next season.  After a season of transition, he is also excited for the opportunity to return to his hometown of Sarnia, where he spends his time in the summer months. “I just built a house just outside of Sarnia. It’s nice.  It’s like a home base.  I find it very comforting to know that that’s where we call home. No matter where we are, or where I am playing, that’s where we end up (in the offseason). It makes the craziness of the season easier that that’s where we know we will settle at the end of the year.”

At 27 years old, and with 124 games of NHL experience and a Calder Cup Championship on his hockey resume, Jeffrey enters the upcoming season determined to secure himself a full-time gig in the National Hockey League. “Depending on what happens in free agency, I’m just trying to find the best situation to get back to the NHL.”