Underrated Oiler Signs With Former Team Who Traded Him

Caleb Kerney

Jul 2, 2023, 18:05

Caleb Kerney

Jul 2, 2023, 18:05

The Arizona Coyotes signed the center that they traded away at the 2022 Trade Deadline.

One of the needs that the Edmonton Oilers still have after the Free Agency Frenzy of July 1st is a bottom-six center. Lane Pederson could be that player and from what Ken Holland spoke about to the media, he will get an opportunity to lay claim to that position.

One player who could have fit that role was Nick Bjugstad. He played tremendously for the Oilers, especially in the post season. He earned several looks in the top-six where he could utilize his 6-foot-6 and 209-pound frame.

In his 19 regular season games with the Oilers he contributed six points and was a hair over 50% in the faceoff circle. His ice time dropped about three minutes per game on average, but he found comfortability in the Oilers bottom half of the roster.

Back To The Desert

Bjugstad went back to the Arizona Coyotes where he signed a two-year $2.1-million cap hit contract. We saw the Oilers trade Klim Kostin who then signed a similar deal to Bjugstad with the Detroit Red Wings. The Oilers quite simply do not have the cap space to hand out big contracts this summer.

If the Oilers had signed Kostin and Bjugstad to these contracts they would only have $2.2-million left to sign Ryan McLeod and Evan Bouchard. Both of those players would not take a $1-million contract for the year so Holland would have had to trade one (or both) of them. Would you rather have McLeod & Bouchard or Kostin & Bjugstad?

In the end, they still have some cap space to sign another depth center. A few notable names still unsigned who fit the bill are Paul Stastny and Jonathan Toews. A deal like this could happen in the next day or two.

Related: Oilers' 2023 Off-Season Guide