Arizona Coyotes forward Nick Bjugstad (undisclosed) may not return again this season, as he has returned to Arizona from the team's current road trip. He is expected to be sidelined longer than day to day, and head coach Andre Tourigny said, "It's a little bit longer than that." Rushing the veteran back to action makes little sense at this point since the Coyotes will miss the postseason for the 10th time over the last 11 seasons, only entering via the qualifying round in the COVID-shortened 2019-20 season in that time. For the season, Bjugstad has tallied a solid 22 goals and 45 points while earning a career-high 17:27 of ice time per game across 76 contests.
The Edmonton Oilers have acquired center Nick Bjugstad from the Arizona Coyotes in exchange for a third-round pick in the 2023 NHL Draft and prospect Michael Kesselring. Bjugstad is having his most productive season offensively since 2017-18 as a member of the Panthers. Through 59 games with the Coyotes, the 30-year-old has scored 13 goals to go along with 10 assists. The veteran forward will have a spot in the lineup as a bottom-six forward and should only be considered in the deepest of fantasy formats.
Nick Bjugstad Moves To First Line With Mats Zuccarello Injured
Minnesota Wild forward Nick Bjugstad will replace Mats Zuccarello (lower body) on the first line Sunday against Nashville. Minnesota also reminds without Marcus Foligno (COVID-19 protocols) and Jordan Greenway (upper body), so Bjugstad makes a jump from the third line to the first. It's a very cozy spot for him, as Kirill Kaprizov has kept Minnesota's first line red-hot all season. Bjugstad boasts just 12 points in 53 outings this term, but he has previously had a couple of very decent offensive seasons and should fit nicely on the line.
