Players like Nick Bjugstad are key in building a strong culture. Bjugstad made such a large impact on the Arizona Coyotes locker room last season. Despite being traded at the deadline to the Edmonton Oilers, he was awarded with a two-year contract during the offseason to return to the Valley. To start the 2023-24 campaign, Bjugstad has been phenomenal both on and off the ice for the Coyotes. The 31-year-old forward currently has three goals, six assists and nine points through 14 games. He plays a pivotal role on a line alongside Matias Maccelli and Lawson Crouse who have all really found their groove as of late. While not being the most amazing skater, Bjugstad has surprisingly really soft hands in front of the net partly due to his long reach, making him hard to stop. Bjugstad has already proven to be the Coyotes secret weapon whenever they go into a shootout as he is virtually unstoppable when he is all alone with the goaltender. As a leader and locker room personality, Bjugstad has been even greater. Bjugstad always seems to have a smile on his face and when talking to the media, he never fails to give thoughtful answers that surely represents what the team as a whole is thinking. Nick Bjugstad talked with the media prior to the Coyotes game against the Kraken. There is a reason the Coyotes decided to bring back Bjugstad. His personality is contagious and the organization fell in love with him due to all the positive energy that he brings to the table. The Coyotes are pushing to make the playoffs and Bjugstad’s leadership will prove to be critical especially during the latter part of the year. As the season progresses, Bjugstad should continue his sneaky offensive play while impacting the Coyotes with his kind and energetic personality.
