The Coyotes announced (Twitter link) that they’ve scratched center Nick Bjugstad tonight for trade-related reasons, joining defenseman Jakob Chychrun on that front. Taking Bjugstad’s place on the roster will be center Laurent Dauphin who has been recalled from AHL Tucson.
Bjugstad opted to sign a one-year, $900K contract with Arizona last summer in the hopes of playing a regular role and rebuilding some value after three straight quiet, injury-riddled seasons. The move has turned out to be a good one for the 30-year-old who has posted 13 goals and 10 assists so far in 59 games while winning just over 47% of his faceoffs. He also is averaging two hits per game. With a low price tag, Bjugstad is the type of fourth liner that teams will certainly be looking to add to shore up their depth between now and Friday’s trade deadline and the Coyotes are making sure he’ll be available to be traded over risking him getting injured in tonight’s game against Chicago.
That decision gives Dauphin his third opportunity with the Coyotes this season. The 27-year-old signed a one-year, two-way deal with Arizona in the summer but has only gotten into three NHL contests so far after suiting up in 38 with Montreal in 2021-22. However, Dauphin has been productive in the minors with the Roadrunners, tallying 16 goals along with 25 assists in 48 games so far.
The NHLPA needs to decide if they want this going forward; JC’s been out weeks and this trend is going to keep happening every winter. Tickets aren’t cheap & you already have half a dozen teams actively trying to ice AHL-level teams. Bettman sucks!
Gavrikov has been out way to long to.
Agree. This trade deadline has become absurdity theatre.
@Gbear—Absurdity theater, with Statler & Waldorf in the balcony box! :-)
@Mac – Seriously, someone needs to save this league from itself. All the talk about “parity” while a third or more of the teams are deliberately trying to suck so they can get better draft picks. Sure, I think I’ll go and spend $100.00 to buy a ticket to watch the Nashville Admirals take on the Anaheim Gulls. :/
On that train of thought, imagine if you were given an expansion team and were given Saros in goal with Josi and Ekholm as a top pairing D…..and then imagine not being able to build a winning team off of that foundation. The legacy of David Poile. :/
@Gbear—And, to add injury to insult, was Bettman having the unmitigated gall to state “Nobody tanks in this league.”
@Mac – Guess Bettman has a different definition of the T word than most do. :/
The legacy of Poile is hockey in Nashville. yeah, he didn’t win the Cup. But 25 years ago, few people believed it would ever be a hockey town. 15 playoffs in 18 years changed that.
That includes alot of 1st round exits. About 12 of them, IIRC. Sure, they weren’t the Blue Jackets, but Poile’s inability to draft even one top tier forward was always their impediment to be more successful.
Pens should be in on Bjugstad. They can just waive Heinan to make the cap space and use whatever room their recent moves on another addition.
He would give them an option to sit Carter, which is invaluable.
Yeah, it’s easy to forget Bjugstad’s first go round in Pittsburgh…
Wonder if the NYR put Lindgren on LTIR for rest of regular season, could they afford to bring in Bjugstad? Probably a pipe dream after Kane deal but he’d look great between Motte and Goodrow/Vesey.
going to bruins (prediction)
Bjugstad is a big frame that brings nothing to the party.