Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Bjugstad looking to assist
For Nick Bjugstad the refrain has rang true for nearly three months now. He has not been scoring, and it’s no secret to the 25-year-old Florida Panthers forward. In the wake of a 14-point 2016-17 season, the current stretch reminds onlookers of the injuryplagued and disappointing year Bjugstad previously endured.
He has just two goals in 28 games, a far cry from the 24-goal scorer he was at 22 years old. But that doesn’t mean Bjugstad hasn’t produced on the top line with Aleksander Barkov and Evgenii Dadonov.
Bjugstad registered two assists during Florida’s 4-1 win over Buffalo on Friday night, giving him a careerhigh 23 assists on the season.
“The goals haven’t really been coming,” Bjugstad said. “Got to find ways to generate stuff and obviously, when you play with Barkov and Dadonov, they find ways to get open. You got to look for that pass.”
In the same 28-game span in which Bjugstad has just two goals on 68 shots on goal (2.94 shooting percentage), he’s picked up 15 assists. Extrapolated over an 82-game season, Bjugstad would be on pace for a 50-point season. Now, he needs nine points in the last 20 games to tie his career high for points in a season.
Unsurprisingly, playing with Barkov helps. The AllStar center is one of the best all-around players in the league, both in setting up chances and in converting opportunities. Bjugstad has spent about half of his season (29 of 62 games) on the top line with Barkov, and Bjugstad has played more 5-on-5 minutes with Barkov than he has with anyone else on the team (352:10 together).
“I think his big body can create space for Barky and Dady,” Panthers coach Bob Boughner said. “I think those guys have played really well with Bjugy on their line. I think it’s just a matter of time he’s going to capitalize on those chances.”
The advanced stats show that Bjugstad and Barkov’s relationship goes both ways, though.
According to hockey stats site Natural Stat Trick, when Bjugstad and Barkov are on the ice, the Panthers are responsible for 54.0 percent of shot attempts, 55.4 percent of shots on goal, 59.5 percent of goals, 56.3 percent of scoring chances and 55.6 percent of high-danger chances.
When Barkov is on the ice without Bjugstad, each of those numbers dips toward or even below 50 percent. When Bjugstad is on the ice without Barkov, the effect is similar.
When both are on the ice, the Panthers are dominating play, often times against other top lines. Again, it helps that Barkov and Bjugstad have played with skilled players like Dadonov and Jonathan Huberdeau, but it’s clear Bjugstad’s presence has helped (and also allowed Boughner to rearrange his lines to make Florida deeper).
Boughner said Bjugstad’s game in the defensive zone still isn’t a strength, but noted that he’s gotten better at chipping in away from the puck.
He’s moved from center to wing, removing some of his responsibilities in the faceoff circle and below the goal line. He hasn’t had to power a line by himself, like he would have done should Boughner kept him as a third-line center.
Instead, he’s freed to work more off his teammates, and it’s easier when he has linemates like Barkov (24 goals) and Dadonov (18 goals).
“I just got to recognize who I’m playing with and keep my head up and keep my feet moving and they find ways to get open for me,” Bjugstad said.