Devils’ Bjugstad out 4-6 months; Kovacevic to be limited participant in camp
The New Jersey Devils have announced a pair of injury updates with on-ice training camp action kicking off on Thursday.
Forward Nick Bjugstad is out 4-6 months after undergoing surgery to repair a torn left pectoral muscle last week. Bjugstad suffered the ailment over the offseason.
The 33-year-old was acquired from St. Louis in February in a deal that sent Thomas Bordeleau and a draft pick the other way. It was a tough season for Bjugstad, who had just six goals and nine points in 61 total games.
The 6-foot-6 forward was selected 19th overall by the Florida Panthers in 2010. Since then, he has registered 163 goals and 339 points in 821 career games split between the Panthers, Pittsburgh Penguins, Minnesota Wild, Arizona Coyotes, Edmonton Oilers, Utah Mammoth, Blues, and Devils.
Bjugstad set a personal best of 49 points in 2017-18 while still in Florida. His best goal-output was 22 back in 2023-24 in Arizona, but he has had just 14 goals in the time frame since.
Defenseman Johnathan Kovacevic is set to be a limited participant in training camp after undergoing an off-season knee procedure. A timeline for his full return is unclear.
The 29-year-old is set for his third season with the Devils. Injuries limited him to just eight points in 34 games last year, but he did set a new personal best of 17 points the year prior. The Grimsby, Ontario native has been strong defensively throughout his career, while primarily playing on a third-pair role.
The Devils will open their four-game preseason slate on Sept. 20 with a 1:00 PM ET meeting with the New York Islanders. The club will open the season for real on Oct. 1 with a home game against the Philadelphia Flyers. New Jersey is looking to get back into the playoff hunt after missing out in two of the past three years.
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