Penguins trade Nick Bjugstad to Minnesota for draft pick

In an effort to trim their salary cap, the Penguins traded forward Nick Bjugstad to the Minnesota Wild on Friday night.

They didn’t get much in return.

The Penguins will receive a conditional pick in the 2021 draft in exchange for the 28-year-old Bjugstad, who will cost $4.1 million against the cap next season on the final year of a six-year deal Florida gave him in 2014. According to multiple reports, the Penguins will retain half of Bjugstad’s salary.

He would have been the sixth-highest paid forward on the Penguins roster.

Bjugstad’s tenure with the Penguins was lackluster at best. Acquired along with Jared McCann for forwards Derick Brassard and Riley Sheahan in February 2019, Bjugstad managed 10 goals and 16 points in 45 games with the Penguins over two seasons.

He was frequently injured, missing all but 13 games this season after having core muscle surgery in November and back surgery in May.

When he was healthy, the Penguins never figured out whether Bjugstad fit better at center or wing. Now he’ll have a chance to carve out a niche with his hometown team. The winner of the 2010 Minnesota Mr. Hockey award for his work at Blaine High School, Bjugstad played three seasons at the University of Minnesota before turning pro.

The Penguins and Wild did not disclose the conditions attached to the draft pick.

The Penguins were light on picks in the 2021 draft, having sent their first-rounder to Minnesota in the Jason Zucker deal. They have a second, a fifth, two sevenths and the conditional pick acquired Friday.

They won’t have many more picks in the 2020 draft, which will be held next month. They have a choice in the third through sixth rounds.

Before moving Bjugstad, according to capfriendly.com, the Penguins were about $7.8 million under the salary cap with 11 forwards, seven defensemen and one goalie, Casey DeSmith, under contract.

That’s not much space to re-sign restricted free agents such as Jared McCann, Dominik Simon and Sam Lafferty and take care of their goaltending situation.

The Penguins seem all but certain to move one of their goaltenders, probably Matt Murray, and sign the other to a new contract. Murray’s cap hit was $3.75 million last season. Jarry’s was $675,000. Both are restricted free agents who will command a healthy raise.