Minnesota Wild Bringing Back Veteran Forward

The Minnesota Wild have announced they have signed forward Nick Bjugstad to a one-year deal worth $900,000.

Nick Bjugstad won't reach unrestricted free agency. #mnwild have re-signed the 28-year-old center/right wing to a one-year, $900,000 contract.

Handy and versatile last season, Bjugstad scored six goals and 17 points in 44 games for his home-state Wild.
— Michael Russo (@RussoHockey) July 5, 2021

General manager Bill Guerin was impressed with Bjugstad's play this past season when he recorded 17 points in 44 games in a depth role. The former Florida Panthers is coming off a contract where he signed for six-years and $24.6 million so it's obvious it hasn't always been easy for the Minnesota native.

Call this one a hometown discount certainly, but Bjugstad's going to need to do more with his 11:49 of ice-time a night if he wants to stay in the league. This contract gives the 28-year-old another crack at proving he belongs in the league and gives the Wild a serviceable forward who has 483 games under his belt for the team's bottom-two lines.