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Nick Bjugstad News

Bjugstad (lower-body) will travel on the Penguins three-game road-trip.

Bjugstad has been sidelined since October 5th but will travel on the Penguins upcoming road-trip, which starts Tuesday in Florida. There's no indication whether or not Bjugstad will play on the trip but this is a step in the right direction for the 27-year-old centre.

Nick Bjugstad
Bjugstad (lower-body) is expected to be out “longer-term.”

Both Bjugstad and Evgeni Malkin are expected to miss extended periods of time with lower-body injuries. The Penguins were deep down the middle heading into the season and now will have to rely on players like Jared McCann and Teddy Blueger to centre their middle-6. Bjugstad has missed at least 15 games in three of the last four years.

Nick Bjugstad
Bjugstad (undisclosed) will be a game-time decision on Thursday.

Bjugstad was on the ice for Wednesday’s practice in a non-contact sweater after leaving Tuesday’s game with an undisclosed injury. Head coach Bob Boughner said Bjugstad was feeling “surprisingly decent” and listed him as a game-time decision for tonight’s game vs. the Avalanche. Juho Lammikko centred the third line with Bjugstad limited in practice.

Nick Bjugstad
Bjugstad is day-to-day with an upper-body injury.

Bjugstad missed Monday’s practice so his status for Tuesday’s game is in question. The Panthers called the winger “day-to-day” so monitor his status during Tuesday’s morning skate. With Bjugstad absent today, Denis Malgin skated on the Panthers’ top line and Mike Hoffman moved back to the second line.

Nick Bjugstad
Bjugstad (groin) will return to the Panthers’ lineup on Thursday.

Bjugstad has missed the last nine games with a groin injury, but will return to centre the Panthers’ fourth line on Thursday. Bjugstad has had a tough season, posting just two points (1G / 1A) in 21 games so far. His production has fallen off immensely since his breakout 2014-15 campaign.

Nick Bjugstad
Bujgstad left Friday’s game with a lower-body injury.

Bjugstad played just 4:18 TOI before retiring to the dressing room last night. Panthers’ head coach Tom Rowe did not have an update on Bjugstad after the game, so considering him questionable for Saturday’s game vs. the Bruins. This would be a big loss for a team already without their top centre Aleksander Barkov.

Nick Bjugstad
Bjugstad (hand) has been cleared to make his season debut on Tuesday.

Bjugstad missed the first 19 games of the season with a broken hand, but will make his season debut Tuesday. There was no word on where Bjugstad would fit into the lineup, but expect a full update during Tuesday’s morning skate. The Panthers went 10-8-1 without Bjugstad, but his return will help immensely. He had 34 points (15G / 19A) in 67 games a season ago.

Nick Bjugstad
Bjugstad (hand) will not play on Tuesday; not expected to play Thursday either.

Bjugstad’s season debut continues to be pushed back as it looks like he won’t be able to return until Saturday at the earliest. Bjugstad’s return adds a ton of depth to the Panthers’ lineup. Monitor his status leading into the weekend.

Nick Bjugstad
Bjugstad (hand) is expected to miss one more week.

Bjugstad was expected to return this week, but head coach Gerard Gallant said that he will likely miss seven more days. Continue to monitor Bjugstad’s status as the week progresses, but don’t expect him to make his season debut until next Tuesday at the earliest.

Nick Bjugstad
Bjugstad (hand) will miss the next two games; could make his season debut next Monday.

Bjugstad has missed the first 10 games of the season with a broken hand and will miss at least two more games. Head coach Gerard Gallant said Bjugstad is getting close and should return to the lineup next week.

Nick Bjugstad