Bolts by the Bay
Fansided

2023 Trade Deadline Primer: Five Players the Lightning Should Pursue

By Stephen Parrino

VANCOUVER, CANADA - JANUARY 18: Luke Schenn #2 of the Vancouver Canucks waits for a face-off during the third period of their NHL game against the Tampa Bay Lightning at Rogers Arena on January 18, 2023 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Tampa won 5-2. (Photo by Derek Cain/Getty Images)
VANCOUVER, CANADA - JANUARY 18: Luke Schenn #2 of the Vancouver Canucks waits for a face-off during the third period of their NHL game against the Tampa Bay Lightning at Rogers Arena on January 18, 2023 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Tampa won 5-2. (Photo by Derek Cain/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 6
Next
(Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images)
(Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images) /

Nick Bjugstad — C, Arizona Coyotes

Age: 30
Stats: 56 GP | 13 Goals | 10 Assists | +6 | 16:52 TOI/G
Contract: 2023 UFA, $900,000
Misc. Stats: 27 Blocked Shots | 116 Hits | 2:12 PK TOI/G | 47.6 FO%

Trade board rankings:

  • Daily Faceoff: 32
  • The Athletic: 20
  • TSN: 13

Nick Bjugstad is here without any insider connections linking him to Tampa, but he checks the boxes on a lot of what we could be looking for. He has size (6-foot-6, 215 pounds), faceoff capability, and enough defensive prowess that would make him a worthy addition to the roster.

Most telling about Bjugstad is that he is someone that has made a bad team better when on the ice. With a +7 even strength goal differential, he is the Coyotes’ top forward in the category, and one of only two in positive territory.

It should be mentioned that there are concerns about the effort level of Bjugstad’s game, and some of that has been evident since an underwhelming 2020 season with Pittsburgh led to him being sent to Minnesota for two seasons, where he was only a 10-11 minute-per-game depth player. But since arriving in the desert this season, he has looked closer to the player that helped net the Florida Panthers a bunch of draft picks in 2019.

Bjugstad will not be our top target, or one we should pay anything exorbitant for, but he would make a fine budget addition if BriseBois finds his hands tied preventing him from making any bigger splashes.

Home/Analysis