Nick Bjugstad did something in 2023-24 that he hadn’t done in quite some time - not since 2014-15, to be exact. He scored over 20 goals, and the 22 times he found the net was the most since he put 24 into twine nearly a decade ago. For the Utah Hockey Club, a veteran like Bjugstad is someone they need not just for productivity at an advanced age, but leadership, much like Alexander Kerfoot.
And not just leadership, but a jack of all trades who can be a reliable presence with top or middle-six minutes, putting up between 40 and 50 points in a season, sticking up for teammates, winning faceoffs, and laying out opponents.
This makes Bjugstad one of the more coveted players for a young team like Utah, even if he likely won’t be back in town next season should they look to bring in more young players. But in what is the ultimate transition season in a new city? Yeah, Bjugstad knows a thing or two about abruptly moving from place to place, as he’s done so twice in his career.
Nick Bjugstad is one the transitioning Utah Hockey Club can turn to
As mentioned, Bjugstad is a journeyman these days, but that wasn’t the case earlier in his NHL career. Between 2012-13 and 2018-19, he played for the Florida Panthers before they traded him to the Pittsburgh Penguins, where he played 32 regular season games.
He then moved on to the Minnesota Wild in 2020-21 via trade, and he later signed with the Arizona Coyotes, for whom he played 59 games in 2022-23. Bjugstad was traded to Edmonton later that year, but he signed once more with Arizona in 2023-24, and, of course, followed the team to Utah.
That said, if there is any one player for Utah who is adept at handling big moves, it’s Bjugstad. He will help the club settle into its new home and in front of its new fans early. And his experience and solid productivity should help Utah string together some competitive play for as long as he’s in Salt Lake City.