Nick Bjugstad Bio
Nicholas Jay Bjugstad is an American professional ice hockey forward for the St. Louis Blues of the National Hockey League (NHL). A first-round selection by the Florida Panthers in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, Bjugstad has built a career across several NHL franchises as a dependable two-way forward. Standing 198 centimeters tall and weighing 99 kilograms, he brings size, skating, and a strong net-front presence to the Blues’ lineup.
Early Life and Background
Nicholas Jay Bjugstad was born on July 17, 1992, in Blaine, Minnesota, in the United States. He grew up in a hockey household, where the sport was a daily part of family life. Bjugstad finished his high school career with Blaine High School in 2010 after helping to bring the school to three consecutive Minnesota State High School Hockey Tournaments.
During the summer of 2008, Bjugstad turned down an invitation to train with the USA Hockey National Team Development Program out of a sense of loyalty to his high school teammates. While in high school, Bjugstad accelerated his schooling by taking summer classes and online courses, enabling him to graduate a year earlier than expected. He was named Minnesota Mr. Hockey for the 2009–10 season, recognition of his standout senior campaign.
Path to Hockey
Bjugstad began his collegiate career at the University of Minnesota in 2010, playing for the Golden Gophers in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA). Over three seasons, he totaled 54 goals and 44 assists while the program captured two WCHA championships, establishing himself as one of the top power forwards in college hockey.
His production and combination of size and skill caught the attention of NHL scouts, and he was selected by the Florida Panthers in the first round, 19th overall, of the 2010 NHL Entry Draft. Bjugstad continued to refine his game in college before making the jump to professional hockey, completing his degree in Business Marketing from the University of Minnesota during the 2013–14 season.
Nick Bjugstad Career
Early Career (2013–2014)
Bjugstad left the Gophers after his junior season, signing a three-year entry-level contract with the Florida Panthers on April 3, 2013. He immediately joined the Panthers to end the 2012–13 season and scored his first NHL goal against Anders Lindbäck in Florida’s season finale victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning on April 27, 2013.
In 2013–14, his first full NHL season, Bjugstad led the Panthers in points with 38 and finished third on the team in goals with 16, spending the majority of the year on the team’s first line. On December 31, 2014, Bjugstad signed a six-year contract extension with the Panthers worth $24.6 million, cementing his role as a core piece of the franchise’s rebuild.
Florida Panthers Era (2013–2019)
Bjugstad’s 2016–17 season was riddled with injuries, including a broken hand and a lower-body injury that contributed to him setting a new career low in points since his rookie year. He rebounded the following season by setting career highs in points, assists, and games played during the 2017–18 campaign. On March 6, 2018, Bjugstad recorded his first career NHL hat trick against the Tampa Bay Lightning, a milestone performance that highlighted his offensive upside.
Pittsburgh Penguins Era (2019–2020)
On February 1, 2019, Bjugstad and teammate Jared McCann were traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for Derick Brassard, Riley Sheahan, a second-round pick, and two fourth-round picks in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft. He immediately settled into the third-line center role and helped the Penguins qualify for the 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Bjugstad returned for the 2019–20 season but was limited to 13 games after suffering a core-muscle injury in October that required surgery and kept him out from late November until early March. After a brief return, he suffered an unrelated lower-body injury on March 8, and when the NHL resumed play for the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs, Bjugstad was ruled out for the remainder of the season.
Minnesota Wild Era (2020–2022)
On September 11, 2020, Bjugstad was traded to the Minnesota Wild in exchange for a conditional pick in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft. In the pandemic-delayed 2020–21 season, Bjugstad recorded six goals and 17 points in 44 games, providing veteran depth down the middle of the Wild lineup. As a pending unrestricted free agent, he opted to remain with the Wild, signing a one-year, $900,000 contract extension on July 5, 2021.
Arizona Coyotes and Edmonton Oilers Era (2022–2023)
On July 13, 2022, Bjugstad signed a one-year, $900,000 contract with the Arizona Coyotes. On March 2, 2023, the Coyotes traded Bjugstad along with Cam Dineen to the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for a third-round pick in 2023 and prospect Michael Kesselring, with Arizona retaining half of Bjugstad’s salary. He made an immediate impact on the Oilers’ bottom six forward group, contributing four goals and six points through 19 regular-season games.
Bjugstad collected a career-best three postseason goals through 12 playoff games before the Oilers were defeated in the second round by the eventual Stanley Cup Champion Vegas Golden Knights.
Return to Arizona and Move to Utah (2023–2025)
As a free agent from the Oilers, Bjugstad returned to the Arizona Coyotes on a two-year, $4.2 million contract on July 1, 2023. At the end of the 2023–24 season, the Coyotes’ franchise was suspended and team assets were transferred to the expansion Utah Hockey Club, making Bjugstad a member of the Utah team.
St. Louis Blues Era (2025–Present)
Bjugstad signed as a free agent to a two-year, $1.75 million contract with the St. Louis Blues on July 1, 2025, joining the club as an experienced middle-six forward. The deal runs through the 2026–27 season.
Driving Style and Strengths
Bjugstad is recognized for his combination of size, skating, and a strong net-front presence, allowing him to play a heavy game along the boards and in the crease. He is dependable in defensive-zone matchups and has shown the ability to contribute offensively when given top-six minutes, as evidenced by his career-best 2017–18 season and his first NHL hat trick against the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Bjugstad’s signature moments are his first NHL goal on April 27, 2013, his first career hat trick on March 6, 2018, against the Tampa Bay Lightning, and his run to the 2023 Western Conference Second Round with the Edmonton Oilers. His six-year, $24.6 million extension with the Florida Panthers in 2014 underscored his standing as a foundational player during the Panthers’ rebuilding years.
Nick Bjugstad Career Wins
Across his time with the Florida Panthers, Pittsburgh Penguins, Minnesota Wild, Arizona Coyotes, Edmonton Oilers, and Utah Hockey Club, Bjugstad has established himself as a reliable two-way forward. Verified individual trophy totals and league-wide award counts are not available from the provided sources.
Nick Bjugstad Family
Family Background and Hockey Lineage
Bjugstad’s father, Mike, played Division-III hockey at the University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire, while his uncle, Scott Bjugstad, played at the University of Minnesota before going on to play in the NHL, where he spent a portion of his professional career with the Minnesota North Stars. Scott and Nick have both played for the Pittsburgh Penguins; Scott played 24 games with the team during the 1988–89 season and scored three goals.
Personal Life
During the 2013–14 season, Bjugstad finished his class work to graduate with a degree in Business Marketing from the University of Minnesota. Bjugstad and his wife Jackie, a kindergarten teacher, have one child together. He is nicknamed “Rotisserie Chicken” after he skipped dinner with his Panthers teammates and opted to purchase rotisserie chicken at Publix; amused fans would often throw chicken wings onto the ice as a result.
2025 Season Performance
Bjugstad joined the St. Louis Blues on a two-year, $1.75 million free-agent deal signed July 1, 2025, adding size, experience, and right-shot versatility to the Blues’ forward group. The contract, which runs through the 2026–27 season, gives him a defined role as the team navigates the 2025–26 campaign.
Expected to slot into a middle-six role, Bjugstad brings 13 years of NHL experience and a track record of contributing in playoff matchups, including three postseason goals during the Edmonton Oilers’ 2023 run. His blend of penalty killing, board play, and net-front presence should help stabilize the Blues’ depth chart as the team evaluates its young core.
Outlook for the 2025–26 season centers on Bjugstad serving as a steady, physical presence who can elevate linemates and provide secondary scoring. With a contract that extends through 2027, both player and club have aligned incentives to build momentum heading into the season.