Well it is just hours before the 2025 NHL Trade Deadline, and the Utah Hockey Club has been dealt a blow. Nick Bjugstad has been placed on injured reserve and listed as day-to-day with an upper-body injury. This really is the ultimate double whammy, as general manager Bill Armstrong had intentions of possibly moving the big centre.
INJURY UPDATE@utahhockeyclub forward Nick Bjugstad has been placed on IR with an upper-body injury. He is considered day-to-day.
— Utah Mammoth PR (@UtahMammoth_PR) March 6, 2025
The Nick Bjugstad Injury is a Double-Edged Sword
Now, it might not be all that bad. The UBI is only day-to-day, so it is possible that it would not hamper any potential trade deadline transactions. However, it must certainly raise the blood pressure of GM Armstrong somewhat. Bjugstad is the type of player teams love to add this time of year. In fact, two years, most recently in 2022-23 to the Edmonton Oilers, he was a mid-season acquisition, as teams looked to boost their depth at forward.
What is Happing in Utah
Bjugstad is big, at 6’5″ and being a centre, he can really command the ice with his size and skill. He’s never been a big point producer. Moreover, his career high in points was 49 back in 2017-18 with the Florida Panthers. Carry that over to this year, and he’s really off his career numbers. He only has five goals and 10 assist for 15 points in 53 games. Even though there’s never a good time, this injury for Nick Bjugstad couldn’t come at a worse time. Conversely, if he is still dealt at the deadline, a change of scenery might be exactly what the doctor ordered.
Moving on to Utah’s situation, they haven’t exactly been tearing it up this year, currently sixth place in the NHL’s Central Division. However, they have been committing to pieces that the GM has identified as successes. They just yesterday announced the signings of Karel Vejmelka, Alexander Kerfoot, and Ian Cole. That is why moving on from someone else could still make sense. Either way, the next (now less than) 24 hours will sure be interesting. The deadline hits Friday at 3 p.m. Eastern.
Main Photo Credit: Marc DesRosiers-Imagn Images
