Blues’ Nick Bjugstad out ‘at least five days’ with upper-body injury

Nick Bjugstad will be “out at least five days” with an upper-body injury, according to St. Louis Blues Head Coach Jim Montgomery.

The 33-year-old center suffered the injury in the second period of Tuesday’s 5-2 loss against the Boston Bruins, after coming out on the wrong side of a hit from Bruins defenseman Nikita Zadorov, who caught Bjugstad up high near the boards. 

Bjugstad finished the shift but left the game soon after and did not return. 

With Bjugstad one of five forwards sidelined, joined by right winger Jordan Kyrou, who was listed as week-to-week and placed on injured reserve, the Blues signed center Robby Fabbri to a one-year, two-way contract to aid their injury-ridden offense. 

So far this season, Bjugstad had played in 25 games, scoring four goals and one assist for five points. 

The 33-year-old joined the Blues ahead of the 2025-26 season, signing a two-year, $1.75 million contract, with the hopes that he could offer versatility down the roster either on the wing or up the middle of the ice. 

Before signing with the Blues, Bjugstad played the 2024-25 season with the Utah Mammoth, where he scored eight goals and 19 points in 66 games. Before his stint with Utah, which also included time with the Arizona Coyotes, he had suited up for the Edmonton Oilers, Minnesota Wild, Pittsburgh Penguins and Florida Panthers. 

Originally drafted 19th overall by the Panthers in the first round of the 2010 NHL Draft, following a standout three seasons at the University of Minnesota, Bjugstad has scored 161 goals and 335 points in 785 regular-season games.

The Blues currently sit seventh in the NHL’s Central Division with 29 points in 31 games, two points short of the Mammoth, who hold the last Western Conference Wild Card spot with 31 points in as many contests. 

Without Bjugstad, the Blues are back on the ice on Thursday in Nashville for a matchup with the Predators at Bridgestone Arena.