Nick Bjugstad

Injuries have shortened Bjugstad's last three seasons, and he was limited to just 17 points in 44 contests last year while skating in a bottom-six role. The 29-year-old hasn't topped 30 points in any of the three campaigns he's logged since leaving the Panthers, so there's not a lot to get excited about here. The Wild have enough forward depth to keep Bjugstad in a bottom-six role when the team is fully healthy -- it's unlikely he elevates himself beyond the third line. The big-bodied forward could still see some power-play time, but he's been trending in the wrong direction long enough for fantasy managers to know better than to draft him for their virtual rosters.

Bjugstad only suited up for 13 games with the Penguins in 2019-20, missing most of the campaign due to core muscle surgery and lower-body injuries. He then had surgery on a herniated disc during the league's pause. Bjugstad was traded to the Wild in September and will be looking to bounce back in a contract year. He's nearly three years removed from a 48-point campaign with the Panthers in 2017-18 -- since then, he's amassed only 28 points in 78 contests over the last two seasons. Bjugstad will likely feature in the bottom six for the Wild, which makes a return to his former glory all the more unlikely. Fantasy managers will likely want to steer clear given his scoring decline and long injury history.

Acquired by Pittsburgh at the trade deadline, Bjugstad notched nine goals and five assists in 32 contests with the club last year, bringing his season total to an underwhelming 26 points (14 goals, 12 assists) in 64 games split between the Penguins and Panthers. The Pens will be looking for much more out of the 26-year-old in 2019-20, as they were probably hoping he'd be able to revert to the form he displayed in 2017-18 -- 19 goals and 48 points in 82 games -- when they traded for him in February. While Bjugstad will likely have to settle for a third-line role this season, he could also be tasked with centering Pittsburgh's second power-play unit, which would bolster his fantasy appeal.

After missing nearly 30 games during a disappointing, 14-point campaign in 2016-17, Bjugstad came back with a vengeance by playing out the entire schedule for the first time in his career last season. He posted 19 goals and a career-high 49 points while averaging over 15 minutes of ice time per game. The 6-foot-6 forward also registered a plus-5 rating to mark his first season with a positive rating. Bjugstad has shown plenty of upside when healthy, but he hasn't found much consistency in his career. Still, he's a perennial power-play contributor who should continue to see enough chances in the attacking zone to partially offset his reputation as a health risk.

A 2010 first-round pick, Bjugstad’s career has been derailed by injuries recently, as he’s missed 43 games over the past two seasons. At his best, the 6-foot-6 center is a force to be reckoned with, as he’s virtually immovable in front of the net and in possession of quality finishing skills. However, he’s been leapfrogged on the depth chart by Vincent Trocheck, and Bjugstad averaged a career-low 13:09 of ice time while falling off to just seven goals, 14 points and a minus-19 rating last season -- all career worsts since he broke in as a full-time NHLer. The 25-year-old still has plenty of untapped potential, but he has a lot of catching up to do and will likely start the season as the No. 3 center. A 20-goal, 40-point season for Bjugstad would represent a nice return to form, and it’s certainly doable if he stays healthy.

Bjugstad took a step back last season, managing nine fewer goals than the year before en route to a pedestrian 34 points in 67 games. While he’s still just 24 years old, the 6-foot-6 centerman was significantly outplayed by a pair of even younger pivots on his own team in Aleksander Barkov and Vincent Trocheck. Bjugstad’s 13 power-play goals over the past two campaigns indicate that he’s dangerous with the man advantage, but he could struggle at even strength, as he’s unlikely to supplant either Barkov or Trocheck on the top two lines and remains a work in progress defensively. If he can’t win a bigger role, it’s hard to expect more than about 40 points.

Bjugstad was the top goal scorer on the Panthers in 2014-15, despite being shut down in late March with a back injury that required surgery. The 72 games were enough for Bjugstad to come through with a break out, scoring 24 goals and adding 19 assists while manning the Cats' top line and power-play unit. With the man advantage, Bjugstad was particularly effective, scoring a team-high seven goals and adding five assists. The power forward (he’s listed at 6-foot-6 and 218 pounds) has quickly learned to use his size like Kyle Okposo -- another former Minnesota Golden Gopher -- to get to the net and light the lamp. If his recovery from the back procedure is on schedule, Bjugstad should slot back as a center man in the team’s top six and continue to build on the production he supplied last season.

Would you have guessed that Bjugstad was Panthers' leading scorer in 2013-14? The fact he had only 38 points makes it a difficult trivia question to get right, but don't dismiss the young pivot -- Bjugstad put up strong shot (185) and hit (117) totals in addition to a respectable point total for a 22-year-old in his first full season. The Panthers have improved their depth, which should benefit Bjugstad. With a small improvement in his shot total and shooting percentage, Bjugstad’s production could climb nicely. He could be a sneaky sleeper in fantasy leagues this year, as South Florida sometimes gets overlooked for talent.

Bjugstad played 11 games with the Panthers after his season ended at the University of Minnesota, but managed to notch just one goal. The Panthers are relying on the 19th overall pick from the 2010 draft to turn into the hulking power forward he's supposed to be this season, but only time will tell if he's worth fantasy consideration. If his production doesn't pick up, he doesn't warrant a second glance, but his numbers with the Gophers (21/15/36 in 40 games last year) suggest that he has the potential to be the top-line center of the future in Sunrise, Florida.

Florida scooped up Bjugstad, one of the best American prospects in the 2010 NHL Entry draft, with their 19th overall pick. At 18 years young, this kid has a quick motor strapped to his feet and his 6-4 frame is a warning for the opposition to get out of his way or pay the price. However, the highest competition he's dealt with so far are high school skaters. Bjugstad is headed for much greater competition at the University of Minnesota in 2010-11.