The New Jersey Devils have made a strategic move by acquiring center Nick Bjugstad from the St. Louis Blues in exchange for center Thomas Bordeleau and a conditional fourth-round pick in the 2026 draft. The Blues will receive the latest of the three fourth-round picks owned by the Devils, which includes their own pick as well as those from the Dallas Stars and Winnipeg Jets. Reflecting the roster changes, the Devils have also assigned forward Juho Lammikko to the AHL affiliate, Utica Comets.
This trade occurs just before a league-wide trade moratorium set to take effect, underscoring the urgency to make moves as the trade deadline approaches in just 12 days. While trade activity has been sparse recently, with the exception of some early deals made by the Islanders, the transaction between New Jersey and St. Louis signals the beginning of the trade buzz.
Bjugstad, 33, has faced challenges this season, primarily due to injuries that have plagued his 14-year NHL career. After being sidelined for almost a month due to an upper-body injury, he has managed to make 35 appearances this season, recording six goals and a single assist—a points-per-game rate that marks the lowest of his career. Despite these struggles, Bjugstad has demonstrated solid defensive skills and effective faceoff performance, winning 51.1% of his draws, which is above his career average.
With the Blues currently at the bottom of the Western Conference standings, they are in a position to offload players like Bjugstad, even though he is under contract through the next season with a cap hit of $1.75 million. For the Devils, who are also having a tough season, adding Bjugstad appears to be a calculated risk, providing them with a potential four-line solution for the remainder of the season and beyond.
The absence of Jack Hughes due to injury has compounded depth issues for the Devils’ center position, leading to an over-reliance on players like Cody Glass and resulting in minimal contributions from the fourth line. Bjugstad could offer a significant improvement in this area, proving to be a more effective scorer compared to the current options, who’ve combined to score a mere one goal this season.
On the other hand, Bordeleau was once seen as a promising prospect after being selected in the second round by the Sharks in 2020. However, his development has faltered in recent times, culminating in a poor performance in the AHL this season. The change of scenery could provide him a fresh start, as he looks to regain his footing in professional hockey.
Lammikko’s reassignment avoids potential complications regarding waivers, as he had already cleared them earlier this month, allowing the Devils to execute this move without any hurdles. Throughout his limited time on the ice, Lammikko’s contributions have been minimal, which has paved the way for this decision.
Ultimately, this trade marks an important juncture for both teams, with the potential to reshape their rosters as they look ahead to the future. The Devils, aiming to bolster their lineup amid injury struggles, hope Bjugstad can provide the spark they need as they navigate the remainder of the season.