The Utah Hockey Club has a valuable commodity in Nick Bjugstad. According to The Athletic’s trade board, Bjugstad could draw plenty of attention from teams looking to add center depth. Various contenders could use someone like Bjugstad, a player The Athletic describes as a reliable right-shot center who fills a depth role.
That’s the sort of player that clubs like the Toronto Maple Leafs, New York Rangers, and Colorado Avalanche could target this trade deadline.
But here’s the most compelling reason for moving Bjugstad at the trade deadline this season: Bjugstad is an impending UFA. As such, the Hockey Club may be inclined to recoup something for Bjugstad as opposed to letting him walk away for nothing.
That “something” could be a couple of draft picks or a combination of a mid-tier pick and a prospect. The question would then be finding the right trade partner.
It may be too soon to call that one. With the clock counting down to the Christmas roster freeze, it’s quite unlikely that a trade could happen at this point. But once Santa Claus leaves the building, speculation could ramp up.
It’s worth keeping in mind that the trade deadline is March 7, 2025, this season. While that may seem like it’s a long while away, it’s actually much closer than most fans would believe.
So, buckle up because there could be an interesting trade heading down the pipeline for the Utah Hockey Club.
Why trading Nick Bjugstad makes sense for the Utah Hockey Club
After a strong start, the Utah Hockey Club gave up some ground before reclaiming some of it back. Now, the Hockey Club is in that mushy middle of teams that aren’t quite contenders, but aren’t lottery-pick teams, either.
As such, the Hockey Club’s inaugural season could turn out to be a precursor for things to come. Players like Clayton Keller and Dylan Guenther have emerged as the club’s leaders. The youth movement is in full swing with the future looking bright.
So, moving on from an impending UFA with a $2.1 million cap hit could be a savvy move. Trading Bjugstad allows the Hockey Club to recover assets while freeing up cap space. That cap space could then be used in the offseason to bring in other players to round out the roster.
Now, I will say this: Trading Bjugstad doesn’t mean the Hockey Club is throwing in the towel on this season. If anything, the Hockey Club could be looking at a strategic move aimed at allowing the team to grow organically.
In other words, allowing young players to blossom into stars is a much better long-term recipe for success than attempting to bring in high-priced veterans who may not work out in the end.
Just ask the Chicago Blackhawks how well that approach has paid off.