Bjug gotta go
The injuries and cap hit caught up to Nick Bjugstad as a Penguin. He is no longer with the team
“I’m happy we were able to send Nick to Minnesota,” Penguins GM Jim Rutherford told The Athletic’s Josh Yohe. “Just a great, great guy. Quality person. It’s where he’s from, it’s a great hockey market. I hope he thrives there. I’m convinced he has good hockey in him if he can stay healthy. He’s going to be 100 percent healthy next season.”
Bill Guerin is taking on Bjugstad for a conditional 7th round pick. Earlier today I referenced how the Penguins are going to be in the lower to mid 70M range with the salary cap. They are 4.1M closer to getting there… or not. They are also retaining salary. Hope you’re sitting down
Ouch.
I was OK rolling the dice on Bjugstad because the market for third line centers doesn’t look great. If he got injured you just throw him back on LTIR for the year. I realize I’m probably in the minority with that opinion.
This increases the pressure on finding a 3rd line center. Not because Bjugstad was a great option, healthy or not, but because they literally don’t have anybody else right now. Jared McCann tried, but failed. At the very least the Penguins perceive him to have failed in that role. They are going to need to outsource this issue. That carries quite a bit of risk considering Rutherford’s past few years. Whoever Rutherford does acquire to play 3rd line center don’t buy their jersey. Chances are he’ll just trade him away a year later like every other player they’ve acquired recently.
Switch Bjugstad to the left side and add a conditional 7th and -2.05M to the right side. Rutherford keeps burning through assets.
One might say that chart is, Bjugly
Thanks for reading!
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