It might not be who you were expecting, but Nick Bjugstad could be an unsung hero of the 2025-26 St. Louis Blues.
Bjugstad's veteran presence and positional flexibility might be the perfect puzzle piece for this offense to help lengthen their depth chart and provide a new look on the bottom-6.
A new-look offense on the bottom 6
Bjugstad brings a new level to the depth of the Blues that they sorely lacked before. First and foremost, Bjugstad is bringing the heat with his massive 6'5" frame.
This will enable him to play tough and physical through contact and provide a complementary physical edge. I don't expect Bjugstad to lead the way in hits for the team solely because of his size, but I think he will very effectively be able to box opposing skaters out and maintain good puck possession when he's on the ice, on top of being an average to above-average hitter.
Bjugstad isn't just a large body, however; he has some intrigue on the bottom-6 in terms of his production, as well.
Last year was a disappointing season for Bjugstad, who registered eight goals and 19 points in 66 games played. This was a stark drop-off from years previous, where in just the season before, he had 22 goals and 45 points in 76 games played.
There's clearly more in the tank offensively for Bjugstad, and his deployment up and down the lineup should give him the chance to find what he lost and regain his offensive prowess. Bjugstad is entering his age-33 season meaning there should still be some productive hockey left in him, and even if he can't get up to the 45 point total he once set, if he can get to 35 or even 40 points, Bjugstad will be a massive upgrade over his predecessor, Radek Faksa.
A rare boon: positional flexibility
Bjugstad also offers more than just his production beyond the contract because of his versatility. He is a comfortable winger and center, which gives Jim Montgomery a plethora of options as to how to set his lineup.
Playing on the wing or in the center gives runway to younger players like Dalibor Dvorsky, Justin Carbonneau, and Otto Stenberg. All three are options on the wing, so Bjugstad can slide inside to center when they come up. And when the team is playing without their youth, Bjugstad should slot in just fine on the wing, centered most likely by Pius Suter or Brayden Schenn.
Bjugstad's veteran presence should be appreciated by all, but especially those still learning the NHL game. He can be a mentor on and off the ice, whether it be playing with the young skaters or just practicing, but his flexibility and versatility give this team a secret weapon in how they want to be constructed.
There can never be enough said about having options in the NHL, and oftentimes it is depth that wins out. The Blues are setting up for a big season in 2025-26 with their terrific amount of depth, and Nick Bjugstad might be the perfect X-factor to set this team over and shore up their depth as truly threatening.