Nick Bjugstad is back in the Metropolitan Division - but this time, he’s suiting up against the Penguins.
The New Jersey Devils have acquired the veteran forward from the St. Louis Blues in exchange for Thomas Bordeleau and a 2026 fourth-round pick. It’s a move that brings a big-bodied presence to New Jersey’s bottom six, and for Penguins fans, it means a familiar face is now skating with a division rival.
Bjugstad, who signed a two-year, $3.5 million deal with the Blues this past offseason, didn’t last long in St. Louis.
Through 35 games this year, he tallied six goals and one assist, while piling up 25 penalty minutes and 73 hits. Those numbers tell you exactly what kind of player he’s been - not a high-end scorer, but a physical, energy-line guy who can chip in offensively and wear down opponents with his size.
At 6-foot-6, Bjugstad remains one of the league’s more imposing forwards, and that edge is something the Devils are clearly banking on.
Last season, playing for Utah, Bjugstad posted a more balanced stat line: eight goals, 11 assists, 19 points, and 104 hits across 66 games. That’s the kind of two-way contribution New Jersey is hoping to unlock again as they look to stabilize their depth and make a push in the back half of the season.
Pittsburgh fans will remember Bjugstad’s stint with the Penguins from 2018-19 to 2019-20. In 45 games over those two seasons, he put up 10 goals and six assists with a plus-7 rating and 101 hits. While his time in black and gold was relatively short, he brought that same brand of physical, north-south hockey that’s defined his NHL career.
Now, he’s heading back to a division that knows him well - only this time, he’ll be lining up on the other side of the ice. For the Devils, who’ve been looking to add some grit and experience to their forward group, Bjugstad offers both. He’s not going to light up the scoreboard, but he’s the kind of player who can tilt a shift, win battles along the wall, and give a young, skilled team a bit more bite.
As for the Blues, they pick up a younger piece in Bordeleau and add another draft pick to their 2026 arsenal. It’s a classic midseason move - one team looking to get tougher for the playoff grind, the other looking to the future.
And for Bjugstad, it’s another chapter in a career that’s taken him from Florida to Pittsburgh, Minnesota, Arizona, Utah, St. Louis, and now Newark.
He’s worn a lot of sweaters, but his game has remained consistent: big, physical, responsible, and reliable. That’s exactly what the Devils are hoping to get as they gear up for the stretch run.