The New Jersey Devils announced today that veteran forward Nick Bjugstad underwent successful surgery to repair a torn left pectoral muscle that was suffered earlier this month during offseason training. Per the team, Bjugstad will miss training camp and will be sidelined on a four-to-six month recovery timeline.
Additionally, the team announced that defenseman Johnathan Kovacevic will be a limited participant at training camp as he continues his recovery from a “minor off-season procedure in his right knee.”
Unfortunately, the extended recovery timeline provided in this announcement means Bjugstad will spend a significant chunk of his 2026-27 season rehabbing. The 34-year-old is entering his first full campaign with the Devils after he was traded to the team in early February.
Bjugstad originally signed a two-year, $1.75MM AAV free agent contract with the St. Louis Blues, but St. Louis sent him packing after he scored just seven points in 35 games.
The Devils acquired him in exchange for a conditional fourth-round pick, looking to add some size and veteran experience to their bottom-six. Bjugstad’s arrival spelled the end of the team’s run with veteran Luke Glendening as the No. 4 center, and by early March, Glendening found himself claimed off of waivers by the Devils’ division rivals, the Philadelphia Flyers.
In 26 games in New Jersey, Bjugstad did not score a goal and registered just two points, while averaging just under 10 minutes time on ice per game.
A two-time 20-goal scorer, Bjugstad hasn’t produced much offense since his 45-point campaign with the Arizona Coyotes in 2023-24. Standing 6’6″, 210 pounds, Bjugstad’s value lies more now in his experience, versatility, and imposing size rather than his ability to score goals or make plays.
He was expected to line up as New Jersey’s fourth-line center to start the season, but now he’ll have to wait to occupy that role.
In Bjugstad’s place, New Jersey has a number of viable candidates for the fourth-line center role. Jesper Boqvist appears to be a candidate, though he has largely played along the wing in recent years.
Evan Rodrigues is another option, though he seems overqualified for the fourth line. New Jersey could play Dawson Mercer at center and shift expected No. 3 center Cody Glass to the fourth line as another option.
Or, an expected AHLer such as Colin White or Amadeus Lombardi could impress at training camp and seize the opportunity provided by the fact that Bjugstad is sidelined.
Regardless of how head coach Sheldon Keefe ultimately chooses to deploy his forwards, it’s clear this is a setback for Bjugstad. With unrestricted free agency looming in the summer, the 821-game veteran is likely hoping his recovery timeline ends up closer to the earlier projection (four months) rather than the latter, so he can get into as many games as possible.