Continuing their search for centers in the Western Conference, the New Jersey Devils ought to consider another big body from Utah.
Nick Bjugstad
Current Team: Utah Mammoth
NHL insider David Pagnotta reported Thursday that Nick Bjugstad, a 6-foot-6 forward capable of playing up and down a lineup, is set to leave the Utah Mammoth and hit free agency on July 1.
Among some of the changes coming Utah’s way — including dangling the 4th overall, shopping Maccelli, etc. — big forward Nick Bjugstad will be hitting the UFA market come July 1.
— David Pagnotta (@TheFourthPeriod) June 20, 2025
The versatile Bjugstad, 32, is just one year removed from a 22-goal, 45-point season with the defunct Arizona Coyotes, but he failed to repeat that in Utah this season in large part due to a 5:08 drop in average ice time.
You may recall that Bjugstad scored 24 goals with the Panthers early in his career in 2014-15 and later put up 49 points in 2017-18.
His size and versatility are two things the Devils desperately need, and while he may ultimately be more expensive than Cody Glass with a previous cap hit of $2.1 million, Bjugstad must be considered. The fact that he's leaving Utah for free at all is a gift in itself.
Mason Appleton
Current Team: Winnipeg Jets
Potentially the best option on this entire list, Mason Appleton may be leaving the Winnipeg Jets after seven NHL seasons.
The 29-year-old has scored 24 goals and 58 points for the Jets across the last two seasons while featuring in a bottom-six role, which will work for the Devils in the event they are not able to find a true No. 3 center to slot in behind Hughes and Nico Hischier and ahead of Glass or his replacement(s).
After a seven-assist effort in 13 playoff games, Appleton had stated his desire for a longer-term contract with his family as the top priority.
The Devils, who have struggled for several years to find big, reliable centers, should be happy to offer a deal good enough to make Appleton consider a move to New Jersey. The 6-foot-2 forward has nine assists across his last 18 playoff games, and Tom Fitzgerald has gone all-in on acquiring these typecast "playoff-style" forwards.
Add Appleton to the top of the list.
Radek Faksa
Current Team: St. Louis Blues
With top prospect Dalibor Dvorsky potentially joining the fold and having just $5 million in cap space, the St. Louis Blues may be forced to part ways with Radek Faksa, one of the league's best defensive centers and a seasoned veteran.
Faksa, a longtime Dallas Star, has three 30-point seasons under his belt and won 57% of his faceoffs this season in addition to five points in seven playoff games.
The 31-year-old Finn has shown capable of putting up offense when playing in an expanded role, and his ability to play matchup minutes should be attractive to the Devils. The fewer hard minutes Hischier has to play, the better.
The sticking point will be, of course, Faksa's next contract. He just wrapped up a five-year deal that carried an annual cap hit of $3.25 million and could very easily bargain for a raise on that. The Devils can and should be willing to pay Faksa what he's earned, but a fourth-line center will be lower on Fitzgerald's list than a third-line center, top-six wingers, and potentially a backup goalie.
When it comes to battle-hardened veterans, there are few better and more reliable than Faksa, especially on the 2025 free agent market.