The recent New Jersey Devils trade involving Nick Bjugstad left more than a few NHL fans and observers scratching their heads. One notable insider, David Pagnotta, even went as far as to state that he was confused about why the deal happened in the first place.
One of the things we speculated about in an earlier piece was the possibility of Bjugstad being injury insurance. With the Devils this season, all bets are off insofar as players remaining healthy. One thing that insider Elliotte Friedman touched on in his latest 32 Thoughts Podcast was the hush-hush situation that several players will be participating in the Olympics despite not being 100%.
Jack Hughes is likely among those players. He had been battling with injuries, but got medical clearance to play in Milano-Cortina. Now, Friedman took that thought a little further, speculating that some teams may shut down players following the Olympics.
That’s no bueno for contending teams. But non-contenders, it doesn’t really make a difference. Plus, there’s the trade deadline. Injuries, in addition to players heading out the door.
And that’s where the Bjugstad trade could make sense. While the Devils are hedging their bets with injuries, the club is looking at Bjugstad as more of a replacement.
Friedman wrote in his 32 Thoughts blog about how some players may be heading out. As such, Bjugstad will become a replacement moving forward.
“Some Devils fans were surprised at the Nick Bjugstad deal. Two things: they might be moving out players and need replacements. But, when times are tough, you need good pros. Bjugstad’s a good pro.”
Friedman is implicitly making it known that the Devils won’t be pushing for a playoff spot. If anything, adding a guy like Bjugstad is a way for the Devils to continue treading water until the end of the season.
Bjugstad will be crucial to Devils' depth amid injuries and trades
Based on our initial assessment and Friedman’s comments, the writing is on the wall. The Devils will be moving out some forwards at this year’s deadline. As for who those forwards might be, it’s unclear.
There’s also the possibility of injuries taking their toll on the Devils after the Olympics. Instead of deploying AHL-level players to run out the season, New Jersey will be looking to ice as competitive a lineup as possible.
It’s not that the team is giving up on the season. It’s that the club is looking at every possibility. That’s why having someone like Bjugstad is a solid depth piece. He could play a meaningful bottom-six role, chew up valuable minutes, and be a good pro.
Bjugstad won’t score 20 goals from here till the end of the season. But he will provide a solid presence in the team. He’s the sort of player Sheldon Keefe can deploy without skipping a beat.
The hope is that the Devils can pull off a turnaround like the Columbus Blue Jackets and Buffalo Sabres have this season. Anything is possible, really, but the correct pieces must be in place. That’s what the Devils have aimed to achieve with their most recent moves.