Nick Bjugstad: The Good, the Bad & More

Nick Bjugstad has come a long way from his humble beginnings in Blaine, Minnesota. He excelled at the University of Minnesota before the Florida Panthers drafted him 19th overall in 2010. He had high expectations, and he’s now entering his sixth full season as an NHL regular.

Last year, he played 82 games for the first time, and he posted career highs in assists, points, and plus/minus. A common question among Panthers faithful this summer has been, “Can Bjugy take another step forward next year?” In this article, we’ll explore the positives and negatives in his game, how the Panthers could deploy him, and what the Panthers are most likely to do with him.

The Good in Bjugstad’s Game

After an injured and statisticallydown 2016-17 campaign, Bjugstad bounced back last year with 19 goals and 49 points. He certainly learned a thing or two about puck protection during Jaromir Jagr’s stint down south. Bjugstad’s 6-foot-6 frame helped him effectively retrieve pucks against the wall and his size allows him to use his stick to reach across the length of the face-off circle to steal a puck.

Additionally, he looked comfortable on the first line with Aleksander Barkov and Evgeni Dadonov once he was moved up in the middle of last year. Of his 42 even-strength points last season, Barkov or Dadonov factored in on 26 of them. This was Bjugstad’s first extended opportunity on a legitimate first line, and there was chemistry. He drew attention, created space for his linemates to operate,