PuckSleuth
72Not on an NHL roster · Center · Shoots R
Nick Bjugstad
Age 34 · 6'6" · 210 lb · Born in Minneapolis, USA
Cap hit
$1.75M
1.7% of $104M cap
Term
1 yr
Through 2026-27, then UFA
Clause
None
Surplus value
+$630K
vs. $2.38M market estimate
Confirmed by the public signing announcement · source
2025-26 regular season
GP
61
Goals
6
7.8% shooting
Assists
3
2 primary
Points
9
0.15 per game
TOI/GP
10:56
PP 0:04 · PK 0:43
xGF%
45.8
5v5, -5 vs. last yr
Game Score
+0.24
per game
Faceoff %
49.9
175 W · 176 L
Plus/minus
-11
Blocks 33 · Hits 108
Game log
Last 5 games · NHL API
| Game | G | A | SOG | HIT | BLK | TOI | PP | PK | FO | OZS% | GV | TK | +/- | GS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 14 @ BOS · L 4-0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 13:02 | 0:11 | 0:00 | 7-2 | 100 | 1 | 0 | -1 | -0.13 |
| Apr 12 vs OTT · W 4-3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 10:04 | 0:00 | 0:00 | — | 50 | 1 | 0 | 0 | +0.00 |
| Apr 11 @ DET · W 5-3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11:56 | 0:00 | 0:00 | 0-1 | 57 | 0 | 0 | +2 | +0.31 |
| Apr 9 vs PIT · L 5-2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 14:06 | 0:00 | 0:00 | — | 50 | 1 | 0 | -1 | -0.19 |
| Apr 7 vs PHI · L 5-1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11:55 | 0:00 | 0:00 | — | 0 | 1 | 1 | +1 | +0.21 |
GS = our Game Score (credit for everything he did; goals and assists count most). FO = faceoffs won-lost. OZS% = share of his 5v5 offensive and defensive zone faceoff starts that were in the offensive zone. GV/TK = giveaways/takeaways.
Advanced metrics
5v5 unless noted · 2025-26 · 609 min · percentile vs. NHL forwards
23rd percentile
13th percentile
63rd percentile
13th percentile
6th percentile
22nd percentile
15th percentile
9th percentile
38th percentile
28th percentile
37th percentile
11th percentile
16th percentile
24th percentile
xGF% is his team's share of 5v5 expected goals while he was on the ice, from our own expected goals model; HDCF% counts only high-danger chances (xG of 0.15 or more). IPP is the share of his team's 5v5 goals while he was on the ice that he scored or assisted on. Relative stats compare him with his team when he was off the ice. Goals above expected and ixG/60 use his own shots at all strengths. PDO and OZS% describe luck and deployment, so their bars are grey.
Play stylePhysical forechecking center
Trait percentiles vs. NHL centers · 2025-26
Bjugstad plays a hard-nosed, aggressive game with strong physicality and relentless forechecking that drives play in the attacking zone. However, his playmaking struggles and below-average speed limit his ability to create chances and control the game at five-on-five.
- Shooting volume
- 72
- Playmaking
- 8
- Zone entries(est.)
- 75
- Forechecking
- 84
- Physicality
- 83
- Defensive impact
- 38
- Puck management
- 81
- Speed
- 33
Where he shoots from
Slot 43% · Mid-range 42% · Perimeter 15%(114 unblocked shots)
Strengths
- Exceptional forechecking intensity ranks 84th percentile among centers
- Strong physicality and puck management create turnovers consistently
- Solid shooting volume at 72nd percentile with high-danger looks
Watch-outs
- Playmaking at just 8th percentile significantly limits his offensive creation
- Speed ranks 33rd percentile, restricting his ability to close gaps
- Defensive impact at 38th percentile despite his physical play
Similar style: Jack Studnicka, Michael McCarron (MIN)
Built from play-by-play, shift data, and NHL EDGE tracking. Zone entries is an estimate (rush chances while he is on the ice) until tracking data is added.
Where his Game Score comes from
2025-26 · 61 GP
Season total +14.9, or +0.24 per game.
- Scoring
- +7.9
- Shooting
- +5.8
- 5-on-5 goals
- -1.5
- Defense
- +0.1
- Penalty kill
- +0.2
- Physical play
- +3.8
- Puck battles
- -0.7
- Penalties
- -0.8
Game Score gives credit for everything a player does in a game. Goals (1.0) and assists (0.7 primary, 0.5 secondary) count most; shots, blocks, hits, takeaways, penalties drawn, faceoff wins, killing penalties, and holding down the other team's chances add to it. Only mistakes subtract: goals against at 5-on-5, giveaways, penalties taken, faceoff losses, and allowing more chances than an average player would. A player who is there to defend or kill penalties is not marked down for not scoring. Goalies are measured by goals saved above expected.
Career stats
From the NHL's player records
| Season | League | Team | GP | G | A | P | +/- | PIM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007-08 | High-MN | Blaine | 24 | 6 | 14 | 20 | — | 10 |
| 2007-08 (playoffs) | USHS-MN | Blaine High | 3 | 2 | 1 | 3 | — | 2 |
| 2008-09 | High-MN | Blaine | 25 | 26 | 25 | 51 | — | 20 |
| 2008-09 (playoffs) | USHS-MN | Blaine High | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 | — | 2 |
| 2009-10 | UMHSEL | Northwest | 23 | 13 | 8 | 21 | — | 18 |
| 2009-10 | High-MN | Blaine | 30 | 35 | 34 | 69 | — | 26 |
| 2009-10 | U-18 | USNTDP | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 |
| 2009-10 (playoffs) | High-MN | Blaine | 5 | 6 | 3 | 9 | — | 2 |
| 2010-11 | WCHA | U. of Minnesota | 29 | 8 | 12 | 20 | — | 51 |
| 2010-11 | WJC-A | USA | 6 | 2 | 2 | 4 | +2 | 0 |
| 2011-12 | WCHA | U. of Minnesota | 40 | 25 | 17 | 42 | — | 28 |
| 2011-12 | WJC-A | USA | 6 | 4 | 2 | 6 | +3 | 0 |
| 2012-13 | NHL | Florida Panthers | 11 | 1 | 0 | 1 | -8 | 2 |
| 2012-13 | WC-A | USA | 10 | 0 | 2 | 2 | -2 | 0 |
| 2012-13 | WCHA | U. of Minnesota | 40 | 21 | 15 | 36 | — | 28 |
| 2013-14 | NHL | Florida Panthers | 76 | 16 | 22 | 38 | -14 | 16 |
| 2014-15 | NHL | Florida Panthers | 72 | 24 | 19 | 43 | -7 | 38 |
| 2015-16 | NHL | Florida Panthers | 67 | 15 | 19 | 34 | -8 | 41 |
| 2015-16 (playoffs) | NHL | Florida Panthers | 5 | 2 | 2 | 4 | +6 | 2 |
| 2016-17 | NHL | Florida Panthers | 54 | 7 | 7 | 14 | -19 | 22 |
| 2016-17 | WC | USA | 8 | 1 | 3 | 4 | +6 | 4 |
| 2017-18 | NHL | Florida Panthers | 82 | 19 | 30 | 49 | +5 | 41 |
| 2018-19 | NHL | Florida Panthers | 32 | 5 | 7 | 12 | +2 | 16 |
| 2018-19 | NHL | Pittsburgh Penguins | 32 | 9 | 5 | 14 | +4 | 14 |
| 2018-19 (playoffs) | NHL | Pittsburgh Penguins | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -3 | 2 |
| 2019-20 | NHL | Pittsburgh Penguins | 13 | 1 | 1 | 2 | +3 | 8 |
| 2020-21 | NHL | Minnesota Wild | 44 | 6 | 11 | 17 | +7 | 17 |
| 2020-21 (playoffs) | NHL | Minnesota Wild | 6 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| 2021-22 | NHL | Minnesota Wild | 57 | 7 | 6 | 13 | -2 | 20 |
| 2022-23 | NHL | Arizona Coyotes | 59 | 13 | 10 | 23 | +7 | 26 |
| 2022-23 | NHL | Edmonton Oilers | 19 | 4 | 2 | 6 | +6 | 8 |
| 2022-23 (playoffs) | NHL | Edmonton Oilers | 12 | 3 | 0 | 3 | -2 | 16 |
| 2023-24 | NHL | Arizona Coyotes | 76 | 22 | 23 | 45 | +11 | 59 |
| 2024-25 | NHL | Utah Hockey Club | 66 | 8 | 11 | 19 | -2 | 16 |
| 2025-26 | NHL | St. Louis Blues | 35 | 6 | 1 | 7 | -7 | 25 |
| 2025-26 | NHL | New Jersey Devils | 26 | 0 | 2 | 2 | -4 | 8 |
Every league he has played in, from the NHL's records, regular season and playoffs.
Latest news
Headlines from news outlets and team blogs
No news about him in the last 30 days.
Sentiment & chatter
Fans
—
Beat writers
—
Media
—
Fan, beat writer, and media scores, the 14-day trade chatter chart, and the latest mentions appear once sentiment scoring is switched on. Mentions are already being collected.
Recent Game Scores
Last 10 games · goals above average
Average +0.09 per game over these 10.
Skating · NHL EDGE
2025-26, as of Oct 2
- Top speed
- 21.6 mph
- 26th pct
- 20+ mph bursts
- 70
- Hardest shot
- 81.0 mph
- 25th pct
- Distance
- 111.2 mi
- OZ time
- 38.5%
- 10th pct
- DZ time
- 43.1%
Age curve
NHL forwards · production index
At 34, forwards typically produce 63% of their peak (age 24).
From 24 seasons of NHL results, adjusted for league scoring and save percentage in each era. Shaded bars are the seasons left on his contract.
Contract by season
1 season left
| Season | Team | Cap hit | % of cap |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-27 | NJD | $1.75M | 1.7% |
UFA after 2026-27. $1.75M in cap hits left. % of cap uses each season's ceiling where the league has set one ($104M this season, $113.5M in 2027-28).