Dustin Byfuglien’s lawyer: ‘Careless boating is something we can live with’

Please recall back in Aug. 2011 when Dustin Byfuglien was arrested on "suspicion of boating while intoxicated," which apparently is illegal in Minnesota.

The Winnipeg Jets defenseman pleaded no guilty to four charges, which included a refusal to take a blood or urine test when stopped by police.

While Byfuglien is in Tampa Bay for a Southeast Division showdown for Winnipeg (hurry up, realignment), his lawyer will be in Minneapolis hoping to get the charges reduced in a settlement conference on Thursday.

From the Winnipeg Sun:

"What we'd like to see is something not alcohol or drug related," Mitch Robinson told the Sun, Wednesday. "A reasonable settlement would be something to the effect of careless boating. Careless boating is something we can live with."

Byfuglien was charged with boating while intoxicated on Lake Minnetonka, in the Minneapolis suburb of Excelsior, Aug. 31. He was also charged with refusing a blood or urine test, as well as boating without navigational lights and without enough flotation gear for the people on board.

Well, obviously Byfuglien doesn't need floatation gear. Why is that a crime?

Hopefully this ordeal ends on Thursday with a settlement that Byfuglien finds appetizing. If nothing else, it did create one of our favorite hockey cards of the last several years.

s/t Illegal Curve.