With the Olympic trade freeze looming, the New Jersey Devils made a late-hour move to shore up their center depth, acquiring veteran Nick Bjugstad from the St. Louis Blues in exchange for Thomas Bordeleau and a conditional 2026 fourth-round pick. The Blues will receive the latest of three fourth-rounders the Devils currently own - their own, Dallas’, or Winnipeg’s - and in a corresponding roster move, New Jersey assigned forward Juho Lammikko to AHL Utica.
Let’s break down what this deal means for both clubs and why it might be more than just a minor shuffle.
For the Devils: A Shot at Stability Down the Middle
This season hasn’t gone according to plan for New Jersey. Injuries have hit hard, especially down the middle, with Jack Hughes missing significant time.
That’s forced the Devils to lean heavily on depth pieces like Cody Glass in elevated roles - a tough ask for a player with his own injury history. Meanwhile, the fourth line has been a black hole offensively.
The trio of Lammikko, Luke Glendening, and Maxim Tsyplakov has combined for just one goal all season. One.
Enter Bjugstad.
The 33-year-old isn’t going to light up the scoreboard, but he brings a level of experience and two-way reliability that’s been sorely lacking at the bottom of the Devils’ lineup. He’s posted six goals and one assist in 35 appearances this year - not eye-popping numbers, but they’re still an upgrade over what New Jersey’s been getting from its current fourth-line options.
What makes Bjugstad an intriguing fit is his defensive impact. Even in a tough year with the Blues, he found chemistry centering St.
Louis’ fourth line alongside Nathan Walker and Alexey Toropchenko. That trio, despite being deployed primarily in the defensive zone, controlled over 54% of expected goals - a strong indicator that Bjugstad can still tilt the ice in the right direction when given the right role.
He’s also been quietly solid in the faceoff circle, winning 51.1% of his draws, which is above his career average of 49%.
And this isn’t just a rental. Bjugstad is under contract through next season at a $1.75 million cap hit, giving New Jersey a cost-effective piece who can help stabilize the bottom six for another year. For a team that’s struggled to find consistency and depth, that’s a valuable addition - even if the Devils aren’t exactly surging toward the postseason.
For the Blues: Selling Smart, Even Without Expirings
St. Louis finds itself in the basement of the Western Conference, and while Bjugstad isn’t a pending UFA, the Blues are smart to start moving pieces that aren’t part of their long-term plans.
They signed Bjugstad last summer to a two-year, $3.5 million deal, likely hoping he’d provide veteran leadership and solid minutes in a depth role. He did that in spurts, but the fit clearly wasn’t long-term.
In return, they get a conditional fourth-round pick and a flyer on 24-year-old Thomas Bordeleau. Once a promising second-round pick by San Jose in 2020, Bordeleau’s development has hit a wall.
After putting up 38 points in 59 games for the Barracuda last season, he declined to re-sign with the Sharks and ended up with the Devils on a two-way deal. But things haven’t clicked in Utica either - just two goals and eight points in 35 AHL games, along with a -13 rating.
At this point, Bordeleau is more of a contract management move than a reclamation project. The Devils were operating at 49 of the NHL’s 50-contract limit, and moving Bordeleau gives them a little breathing room.
If the Blues can help him rediscover his game, great. If not, they’ve still added a draft pick for a player who wasn’t part of their future.
The Lammikko Move: Roster Mechanics at Work
As for Juho Lammikko, his reassignment to AHL Utica is procedural but notable. He cleared waivers back on January 17, and the Devils had a 30-day window to send him down without needing to re-expose him. That window was still open, so they made the move now to free up a roster spot.
Lammikko has struggled to make an impact in New Jersey this season - just two assists and a -4 rating in 24 games, averaging under 10 minutes of ice time per night. His demotion reflects the team’s ongoing search for more effective depth options, and Bjugstad is now part of that equation.
Bottom Line
This isn’t a blockbuster, but it’s a savvy move for both sides. The Devils get a dependable veteran who can help stabilize their bottom six now and next season, while the Blues continue to stockpile assets and create space for younger players. With the trade freeze about to hit and the deadline just around the corner, this could be the start of a busy stretch - and a reminder that even the smaller deals can carry meaningful implications.