News broke late Thursday morning that Florida Panthers centre Nick Bjugstad suffered a broken hand in pre-season play and will miss four weeks of action. The injury occurred early in the Panthers’preseason game Tuesday against the Dallas Stars.
Florida Panthers Nick Bjugstad rammed into goal cage early in Tuesday's game at Dallas; broken hand, out four weeks.
— George Richards (@GeorgeRichards) October 6, 2016
Florida Panthers Nick Bjugstad Out Four Weeks
The injury occurred when Bjugstad rammed hard into the Dallas net, smashing his hand. Two days later, on Thursday, Bjugstad was not spotted on the ice for the Panthers team practice. The Panthers stated he suffered an “upper-body” injury, which was learned to be a broken hand.
Bjugstad has been in the National Hockey League for four seasons now, all with Florida. He has played a total of 226 games, scoring 56 goals, while adding 60 assists. The 24-year-old forward is a key part of the Panthers young, dynamic offense. He serves as a solid 2nd/3rd line player. Last season, Bjugstad played in 67 games, totaling 34 points, (15 goals, 19 assists). He played in five of the six first round series games when the Panthers took on the New York Islanders in the 2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs. He tallied two goals and two assists in the postseason.
Bjugstad has had an issue with injuries in the past, missing 15 games last season and 10 in 2014-2015. However, when healthy, he is solid, averaging around 15 minutes of ice time a game as well as being the team’s top face-off man.
With the regular season beginning next week, Bjugstad, if all goes well with the recovery process, is likely to make his return mid-November.
Main Photo:
SUNRISE, FL – APRIL 22: Nick Bjugstad #27 of the Florida Panthers clears the puck against of the New York Islanders during the first overtime period in Game Five of the Eastern Conference First Round during the 2016 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the BB&T Center on April 22, 2016 in Sunrise, Florida. The Islanders defeated the Panthers 2-1 in double overtime. (Photo by Joel Auerbach/Getty Images)
