Not 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

+$738K

vs. $2.488M market estimate

Confirmed by the public signing announcement · source

2025-26 regular season

Goals

7.8% shooting

Assists

2 primary

Points

0.15 per game

TOI/GP

10:56

PP 0:04 · PK 0:43

xGF%

45.8

5v5, -5 vs. last yr

Game Score

-0.09

per game, goals above average

Faceoff %

49.9

175 W · 176 L

Plus/minus

-11

Blocks 33 · Hits 108

Game log

Last 5 games · NHL API

Game	SOG	HIT	BLK	TOI	PP	PK	FO	OZS%	GV	TK	+/-	GS
Apr 14 @ BOS · L 4-0	0	3	0	13:02	0:11	0:00	7-2	100	1	0	-1	-0.09
Apr 12 vs OTT · W 4-3	2	0	0	10:04	0:00	0:00	—	50	1	0	0	-0.33
Apr 11 @ DET · W 5-3	0	0	0	11:56	0:00	0:00	0-1	57	0	0	+2	+0.02
Apr 9 vs PIT · L 5-2	0	0	1	14:06	0:00	0:00	—	50	1	0	-1	-0.27
Apr 7 vs PHI · L 5-1	0	0	0	11:55	0:00	0:00	—	0	1	1	+1	-0.15

GS = our Game Score, goals above average. 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

xGF%45.8%

23rd percentile

Relative xGF%-5.9

13th percentile

HDCF%51.5%

63rd percentile

CF%44.9%

13th percentile

Relative CF%-6.5

6th percentile

FF%46.5%

22nd percentile

GF%38.1%

15th percentile

CF/6048.0

9th percentile

CA/6059.0

38th percentile

ixG/600.73

28th percentile

Goals above expected-1.4

37th percentile

IPP50.0%

11th percentile

PDO96.8

16th percentile

OZS%43.1%

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.

PhysicalForecheck-heavyVolume shooterLimited playmaker

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 · goals above average

Season total -5.6 goals, or -0.09 per game.

Even strength offense: -0.9
Even strength defense: +0.1
Power play: -0.1
Penalty kill: +0.4
Finishing: -1.4
Playmaking: -2.9
Penalties: -0.8

Game Score adds up a player's impact in goals compared with an average player given the same ice time: his share of expected goals for and against at even strength, on the power play, and on the penalty kill, plus finishing (goals minus expected goals), primary assists, penalties drawn and taken, and faceoffs. Goalies are measured by goals saved above expected.

By season

Regular season

Season	Team	GP	G	A	P	+/-	SOG	TOI/GP	FO%	GS/GP
2025-26	NJD, STL	61	6	3	9	-11	77	10:56	49.9%	-0.09
2024-25	UTA	66	8	11	19	-2	115	12:19	47.4%	-0.07
2023-24	ARI	76	22	23	45	+11	165	17:27	49.2%	-0.04
2022-23	ARI, EDM	78	17	12	29	+13	145	16:12	47.8%	-0.09

Sentiment & chatter

Fans

—

Beat writers

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Media

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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.

Age curve

NHL forwards · production index

202937

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.

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%