Breaking: Utah Hockey Club Star Hits Major Setback On Opening Night
According to Craig Morgan of ALL Utah Hockey, Nick Bjugstad, the center for the Utah Hockey Club, will not be available for the opening night game against the Chicago Blackhawks.
A couple of updates here:
Utah Hockey Club center Nick Bjugstad is not expected to be ready for the start of the regular season on Oct. 8, per source.
Defenseman John Marino is now listed as day to day. https://t.co/jBOk6BSRqc— Craig Morgan (@CraigSMorgan) September 25, 2024
Utah Centre Nick Bjugstad’s Injury
On September 19th, Bjugstad was reported to have an upper body injury and is currently being evaluated on a week-to-week basis. The veteran has yet to participate in any preseason games, and it would be wise for Utah to proceed cautiously with his injury since he plays a crucial role in the team’s core.
During the 2022-2023 season, Bjugstad appeared in 59 games with Arizona before being traded to the Oilers at the trade deadline. Arizona reacquired him in the offseason, and he subsequently signed a two-year contract. Fans of the Coyotes who are now supporting Utah will be familiar with him.
As for his replacement while he’s sidelined, Jack McBain and Kevin Stenlund are two strong candidates for the third-line center position. Stenlund brings a physical presence but isn’t the fastest skater, while McBain is well-suited for a fourth-line role and offers offensive contribution, having scored 12 goals last season. Utah is in a good position with either player stepping in for Bjugstad.
Given that the injury is being evaluated week-to-week and it’s been around three weeks since the injury occurred, these players are likely to cover for him in just a few games. McBain has the advantage since he’s familiar with Utah’s system, which is significant. It’s reassuring for the team to know they have depth in their roster.