Florida Panthers: The possibility of trading Nick Bjugstad

As we head into the 2017-18 NHL season, the Florida Panthers will look for Nick Bjugstad to contribute effectively. If he falls short once again, the Panthers will have to look into trading him.

After Nick Bjugstad’s first full season in the NHL, the fans, coaching staff, and front office thought that they had a rising superstar on their hands. While the entire organization struggled mightily during the 2013-14 season, Bjugstad was the bright spot. He put up impressive numbers with 16 goals and 22 assists to combine for 38 points. Everything seemed like it was heading in the right direction.

When the Panthers entered the 2014-15 season, Bjugstad was one of the major core players for the team. Coming off a really good rookie season, the Panthers expected Bjugstad to contribute even more. He did just that. Big Nick put up 24 goals and 19 assists in just 72 games and solidified himself as the number one/two Centerman on the team. Because Bjugstad had improved his game from the previous season, everybody expected him to get even better with a young and exciting team to play around.

Instead of improving, Bjugstad went backward. Although the Panthers had become the best team in the Atlantic Division and had suddenly turned into a Stanley Cup Contender, Bjugstad had silently contributed less. The first two lines had become so productive that nobody paid much attention to the fact that Nick had fallen to the third line. After battling some injuries, Bjugstad found himself centering the third line with prospects lining up next to him.

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In order for Nick to get his game going again, the Panthers’ front office made two deals at the trade deadline and brought in Jiri Hudler and Teddy Purcell. These deals helped Bjugstad as he started to perform better and scored 4 points in 5 games in the playoffs, before getting injured in game 5.

After seeing how Bjugstad played in the playoffs, the Panthers’ front office decided to keep him in south Florida. Unfortunately, before the season even started, Bjugstad broke his hand. He did not play his first game of the season till November 22nd, and did not register a point until his 12th game. After getting banged up some more, he ended up finishing the season with a measly 14 points in 54 games.

Nick’s game has heavily decreased since he broke out in the 2014-15 season. He went from a number one center to a very shaky third line center. While the Panthers could have traded Bjugstad this offseason, it seems as if the Panthers’ front office is giving him one last chance to prove himself. If Nick suffers another pitiful season, the Panthers will have to pick up the phone and find another home for Bjugstad.

Because Nick is such a tall and strong player, he is a rare type of athlete to find in the NHL. Standing at 6’6 and 218 pounds, Nick is the type of player that most teams desire to have on their roster. The combination of Nick’s large size and fast speed makes him a very dangerous forward. Unfortunately, Bjugstad has not been able to maintain his production since the 2014-15 season, and his trade value continues to drop. If the Panthers continue to hang onto Bjugstad and he does not improve his game, the Panthers will receive peanuts in return for Nick.

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As far as teams looking for a player like Bjugstad, there are plenty of teams that would be interested in his services. Although it feels like the Eastern Conference is trying to get smaller and faster, the Western Conference is trying to get bigger and more physical. The Panthers could easily find a trade partner in the Western Conference who plays a big and physical game.

One team that seems like the perfect fit is the Anaheim Ducks. The Ducks thrive off of pushing around their opponent and powering their way to victory. Bjugstad could easily center the third line for the Ducks and produce at a decent rate.

At this point, the best the Panthers could get in return for Bjugstad is a mid-round pick and possibly a prospect who is NHL ready. The trade that would be fair on both sides, would be:

For all the fans who feel like the Panthers would be getting the short-end of the stick, let me tell you why the Panthers are not. If Bjugstad has another bad start to the season, his trade value will be extremely low.

Since he has a salary that pays him $4.1 million per year and a performance that continues to worsen each game, not many teams will be willing to add him to their roster unless it’s at the right price. The Ducks might be willing to add Bjugstad to their roster in order to try and revive his career and put together four solid lines that are necessary for a playoff run.

If Nick gets off to another horrid start this year, the Panthers’ front office should act quickly and get rid of him while he still has a little trade value left. This move will benefit both the Panthers and Bjugstad as they both will get a fresh start. Look for Bjugstad to be in another city if he does not live up to expectations once again.