Nick Bjugstad

[ProjectPanthers]

Soon to be a Canuck. Excited. Welcome to Vancouver.........

I don't want to turn this in a Luongo thread, no way. But you're dreaming if Tallon trades the guy he's been salivating over for the last year for an overpriced goalie that you guys are TRYING to get rid of and now seem like you HAVE to get rid of.

There's a reason Tallon has left Gillis with the highest amount he'd give up for Luongo. If Bjugstad was even remotely involved, don't you think Gillis would have been all over that?

You're going to cry when you see how little you get for Bobby Lou.

 

[ProjectPanthers]

Had no idea he had grown so large.

Yah he's a big kid. Has some serious skill.

I expect him to be a Staal/Getzlaf type player. I don't know how well his offensive game will translate but he has a mean wrister and pretty good hands for a monster.

 

[A Sequel to Failure]

I don't want to turn this in a Luongo thread, no way. But you're dreaming if Tallon trades the guy he's been salivating over for the last year for an overpriced goalie that you guys are TRYING to get rid of and now seem like you HAVE to get rid of.

There's a reason Tallon has left Gillis with the highest amount he'd give up for Luongo. If Bjugstad was even remotely involved, don't you think Gillis would have been all over that?

You're going to cry when you see how little you get for Bobby Lou.

Don't you wonder why OP started this thread? Look at his post history.

 

[PanthersHockey1]

Soon to be a Canuck. Excited. Welcome to Vancouver.........

Kesler soon to be a panther. Excited. Welcome to Florida........

 

[Bookman]

Yah he's a big kid. Has some serious skill.

I expect him to be a Staal/Getzlaf type player. I don't know how well his offensive game will translate but he has a mean wrister and pretty good hands for a monster.

We gotta make sure he has a romantic interest back in Minnesota, ya know, for the future.

 

[Obvious Fabertism]

Honestly not a big fan of Bjug and haven't been even since his high school and prep days. Lots of physical tools but I question his hockey sense. Could be wrong but I wouldn't be surprised if it takes him a bit longer to become an effective player in the NHL, reminds me a bit of Wheeler except for better burying ability in college.

 

[PuckFan01]

Honestly not a big fan of Bjug and haven't been even since his high school and prep days. Lots of physical tools but I question his hockey sense. Could be wrong but I wouldn't be surprised if it takes him a bit longer to become an effective player in the NHL, reminds me a bit of Wheeler except for better burying ability in college.

LOL. You are a big fan of Grant Besse but not Bjugstad? That's about all I need to know about how worthwhile your opinion is.

You should have put away your opinion on player ability when you said Grant Besse would get drafted around the 3rd round. How'd that work out?

Bjugstad is a smart player. He may try to do a little too much on his own on occasion but given his size and shooting ability, it is understandable why that might occur. He's much further along than Wheeler was at age 20. He's going to be a Top 6 forward for the Panthers in a few years. No doubt about it.

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

LOL. You are a big fan of Grant Besse but not Bjugstad? That's about all I need to know about how worthwhile your opinion is.

You should have put away your opinion on player ability when you said Grant Besse would get drafted around the 3rd round. How'd that work out?

Bjugstad is a smart player. He may try to do a little too much on his own on occasion but given his size and shooting ability, it is understandable why that might occur. He's much further along than Wheeler was at age 20. He's going to be a Top 6 forward for the Panthers in a few years. No doubt about it.

Bjugstad still has a lot to work on. I'd like to see him have a full dominant year in the NCAA before he moves on, but alas, I don't think he'll come back. I don't think it will dramatically alter his development either way though.

 

[Obvious Fabertism]

LOL. You are a big fan of Grant Besse but not Bjugstad? That's about all I need to know about how worthwhile your opinion is.

You should have put away your opinion on player ability when you said Grant Besse would get drafted around the 3rd round. How'd that work out?

Bjugstad is a smart player. He may try to do a little too much on his own on occasion but given his size and shooting ability, it is understandable why that might occur. He's much further along than Wheeler was at age 20. He's going to be a Top 6 forward for the Panthers in a few years. No doubt about it.

Not saying he won't, just saying he has looked disappointing to me at the collegiate level. As a STH since the 90's he has done very little to seperate himself from numerous other highly touted Gophers that went on to underachieve in the NHL. His Mr. Hockey season was a down year for Minnesotans IMO and pre injury Budish showed a lot more promise in prep IMO.

No where did I ever say Besse was better or ever will be better than Bjugstad, he is however widely considered the top candidate for Mr. Hockey next year and I can only assume factors that I would have no idea about went into his going undrafted, he is certainly a gifted player from the things I have seen from him. They play completely different styles and my opinion of one has nothing to do with the other.

Just thought I'd bring up my opinion on it, remember how highly touted guys like Chucko, Pat White and Okposo (who is solid but under performing to the his hype) were? I think Bjugstad will be solid, just it might take him a little while to find his game at the next level and putting first line expectations on him in the first few years might be premature.

Just trying to put my two cents in on a player I have seen quite a bit of over the past few years, no need to jump all over me.

 

[PuckFan01]

Not saying he won't, just saying he has looked disappointing to me at the collegiate level.

Disappointing on the college level? LOL. He had 25 goals, was 1st team all WCHA, and was 2nd team all-American last season. He did all that at age 19 while playing at less than 100% in the 2nd half due to a shoulder issue. If you consider that disappointing, then you probably don't have very realistic expectations in the first place.

Just thought I'd bring up my opinion on it, remember how highly touted guys like Chucko, Pat White and Okposo (who is solid but under performing to the his hype) were?

The difference is Chucko and White never produced in college like Bjugstad has. Okposo produced but has been mismanaged by the NYI and he doesn't have the God given gifts Bjugstad has.

 

[Obvious Fabertism]

Disappointing on the college level? LOL. He had 25 goals, was 1st team all WCHA, and was 2nd team all-American last season. He did all that at age 19 while playing at less than 100% in the 2nd half due to a shoulder issue. If you consider that disappointing, then you probably don't have very realistic expectations in the first place.



The difference is Chucko and White never produced in college like Bjugstad has. Okposo produced but has been mismanaged by the NYI and he doesn't have the God given gifts Bjugstad has.

Points mean very little in how I assess players on the Gophers, the team is a perennial offensive powerhouse, numbers there mean nothing at the NHL level. If you want to bring points into play, he was outscored by a 7th rounder this year and Rau as a freshman was more of an impact player IMO.

I was and still am very high on Rau who proved this year that his skills can translate to a more physically challenging game. I would have had him ranked higher in the draft as height is really the only thing holding his game back. When I say Bjugstad's hockey sense is lacking, it is in comparison to guys like Rau, Schroeder and even a guy like Barriball who was victim of circumstance. His body will take him far but their may be some growing pains as he adjusts is all I was saying.

 

[scoutman1]

im still not a fan of drafting right from US Highschool and Jr A hockey leagues....the competition is very watered down and to risk a 1st round pick on them I think is nuts.

 

[monster_bertuzzi]

I don't want to turn this in a Luongo thread, no way. But you're dreaming if Tallon trades the guy he's been salivating over for the last year for an overpriced goalie that you guys are TRYING to get rid of and now seem like you HAVE to get rid of.

There's a reason Tallon has left Gillis with the highest amount he'd give up for Luongo. If Bjugstad was even remotely involved, don't you think Gillis would have been all over that?

You're going to cry when you see how little you get for Bobby Lou.

LoL@ a 5.3 cap hit for a top flight goalie being considered over priced. Especially from a guy who's team has a Theodore/Clemmenson combo in net.

 

[Kipper933]

im still not a fan of drafting right from US Highschool and Jr A hockey leagues....the competition is very watered down and to risk a 1st round pick on them I think is nuts.

The success rate is pretty decent..

HS 1sts:

'10 Entry Draft:
Kevin Hayes (24th)
Brock Nelson (30th)

'09 Entry Draft:
Nick Leddy (16th)
Chris Kreider (19th)

'08 Entry Draft:
Jake Gardiner (17th)

'07 ENtry Draft:
Ryan McDonaugh (12th)

'06 Entry Draft:
David Fischer (20th)

'05 Entry Draft:
TJ Oshie (24th)
Matt Niskanen (28th)

'04 Entry Draft:
Blake Wheeler (5th)
Cory Schneider (26th)

 

[sfo]

im still not a fan of drafting right from US Highschool and Jr A hockey leagues....the competition is very watered down and to risk a 1st round pick on them I think is nuts.

That's just an ignorant comment, particularly with the junior A comment. If a kid is legit, he will produce at any level. There is a lot of talent in junior A, particularly in the USHL. The draft itself is such a crap shoot because it's based on potential. I bet plenty of guys in the "beloved" CHL don't pan out just as much as guys in other leagues don't.

 

[PuckFan01]

Points mean very little in how I assess players on the Gophers, the team is a perennial offensive powerhouse, numbers there mean nothing at the NHL level. If you want to bring points into play, he was outscored by a 7th rounder this year and Rau as a freshman was more of an impact player IMO.

Rau wouldn't have had the year he did if teams weren't so concerned about Bjugstad. Particularly on the power play as Rau made a killing sitting on the doorstep on the right side. Teams were playing Bjugstad's side more intently because they were afraid of his sniper ability. If you think Rau drove that 1st line more than Bjugstad and was more impactful, you'd be in a serious minority on that opinion. I love Rau's tenacity and ability but he's not as good as Bjugstad is nor as good as Bjugstad will be.

I think the fact that coaches made Bjugstad a 2nd team all American and coaches, players, and media voted him to 1st team all WCHA goes to show they knew who was the most important cog on the Gophers. Not to mention, his teammates voting him and Patterson as co-MVP.

You're right. It's not all about points. But he was the best overall player on the team without a doubt. The voting by so many different people on the above clearly states your opinion isn't widely held.

 

[SufferingCatFan]

You never really know how a prospect will play in the NHL. According to Tallon, he is around 211 pounds at 19 and projects out to 6'6" and 240 lbs. How many centers in the NHL have his size and skill set? He dominated our Development Camp out playing Huber by a wide margin. At this point, he has to be one of the top 20 prospects in hockey IMO.

 

[ProjectPanthers]

LoL@ a 5.3 cap hit for a top flight goalie being considered over priced. Especially from a guy who's team has a Theodore/Clemmenson combo in net.

If he's such a bargain why don't you keep him? Nobody in Florida even wants Luongo back!

 

[MN_Gopher]

One thing that seperates Bjugstad from other marginal gophers is how he scores. PK breakaways, one timers, snipe wrister, cross ice tap ins and deflections. He is not Taffe or Potulny that have a great PP one timer and thats about it.

Look at Blake Wheeler. Another huge kid that took a lot of time. Bjugstad might be a bit taller, Wheeler a bit wider. Wheeler just led his team in scoring. Bjugstad is playing alot better at 19 than Wheeler ever did.

Blake Wheeler 39 9 14 23 41 at 19
Nick Bjugstad 40 25 17 42 28 at 19

 

[grN1g]

according to teammate Erik Haula of the gophers, Bjugstad is in the prcoess of deciding to return to the gophers for another year or to turn pro.

-Haula is returning to the Gophers this fall. He said the team will have very high expectations. “I can’t wait to get started,” he said. “Just gotta see what big 27 is going to do.” He is referring, of course, to Nick Bjugstad, who is deciding whether to return to the Gophers or turn pro. Bjugstad, drafted by Florida in the first round of the 2010 draft, recently completed a prospects camp down there and is said to be mulling his decision. “Obviously everybody hopes he’ll be coming back,” Haula said. “But I have no idea what he’s thinking right now. Florida probably put the pressure on him. But I haven’t talked with him (recently).”

http://www.startribune.com/sports/wild/blogs/57299562.html

 

[buffalo GM]

i would love to see him in florida this year.

 

[Skinnyjimmy08]

how has he done at the prospects camp with the panthers???? does anyone know at all??... i think he will be a dominating force in a few years. I read a few posts ago that he was better than Huberdeau by a wide margain... anybody else know?... very curious about this guy how he's doing

 

[flapanthersfan]

how has he done at the prospects camp with the panthers???? does anyone know at all??... i think he will be a dominating force in a few years. I read a few posts ago that he was better than Huberdeau by a wide margain... anybody else know?... very curious about this guy how he's doing

from all accounts - Bjugstad was dominating and outplayed Huberdeau. I didnt get a chance to go out and watch them myself - but from what I know - Bjugstad scored a hat trick in the scrimmage....Huberdeau had 1G

that being said, Huberdeau made the goalies look silly in the shootouts.

 

[brtriad]

Huge Bjugstad fan. Been saying since his draft year that he's Ryan Getzlaf with a better work ethic.

 

[AmericanDream]

Huge Bjugstad fan. Been saying since his draft year that he's Ryan Getzlaf with a better work ethic.

but....but...but..he had a bad WJC???

big fan of his as well, just loved all the overrated talk he got by others because of one little WJC tourney...kid is gonna be a player this year or next..