The Edmonton Oilers acquired center Nick Bjugstad from the Arizona Coyotes, Daily Faceoff hockey insider Frank Seravalli reported Thursday.
Bjugstad, 30, collected 13 goals and 23 points in 59 games with the Coyotes this year. He’s under contract through the end of the 2022–23 season at a $900,000 NHL cap hit.
According to Seravalli, the Coyotes acquired a 2023 third-round pick and prospect Michael Kesselring from the Oilers in the deal. The Coyotes also retained half of Bjugstad’s remaining cap hit for this season.
Additionally, Edmonton received defenseman Cam Dineen in the deal.
The Florida Panthers originally selected Bjugstad in the first round (No. 19 overall) of the 2010 NHL Draft. The Minneapolis product made his NHL debut with the Panthers late in 2012–13 and ultimately spent parts of seven seasons with the club before being traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2019.
Bjugstad missed most of the 2019–20 season with an injury before being traded to the Minnesota Wild, his home team, on the eve of the 2020–21 campaign. He spent two full seasons rebuilding his game with the Wild before signing a one-year deal with the Coyotes last summer.
The Coyotes waded into the trade deadline proceedings on Tuesday afternoon, agreeing to retain salary to facilitate Patrick Kane’s move from Chicago to the New York Rangers in exchange for a 2025 third-round pick.
Arizona subsequently made headlines on Wednesday by trading defensemen Jakob Chychrun and Shayne Gostisbehere before being paid by the Columbus Blue Jackets on Thursday to take on Jakub Voracek’s contract.
With most of their deadline work now complete, the Coyotes only have the likes of Nick Ritchie and Troy Stecher remaining on their roster as pending unrestricted free agents. Bjugstad could make his Oilers debut on Friday when Edmonton hosts the Winnipeg Jets at 9 p.m. ET.
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