Injury Report: Bjugstad 10/4/16 (broken hand), expected to play 11/22

[Bobblebee]

Why not give Hunt a shot??? At this point he'd be more useful than McCann.

 

[Beezer]

5 week timetable for return would put him a week away.

Anyone know how his recovery is going and if he will be back in the next week or so? Batting?

 

[I am not exposed]

5 week timetable for return would put him a week away.

Anyone know how his recovery is going and if he will be back in the next week or so? Batting?

There were rumours he might be back for Monday against Tampa

 

[GermanPanther]

I think Gallant said they will not return befor Monday. Press Coference was talking about Jokkinen and Bjugstad.

 

[SoupyFIN]

 

[MintyFresh88]

George Richards ‏@GeorgeRichards · 45s46 seconds ago

Florida Panthers coach Gerard Gallant says James Reimer in net Thursday v Leafs; Nick Bjugstad (hand) not back until Sun v NYR at earliest

 

[SoupyFIN]

 

[ShootIt]

Hopefully we see playoff Bjugstad and not regular season Bjugstad

 

[Gizmo Tkachuk]

Hopefully we see playoff Bjugstad and not regular season Bjugstad

Hopefully its healthy, "I want second line center back" Bjugstad

 

[ShootIt]

Hopefully its healthy, "I want second line center back" Bjugstad

Sounds good to me.

 

[batting1k]

Bjugstad cleared

 

[Benched]

Pretty stoked to see him on the same line as Malgin.

 

[Howboutthempanthers]

I don't know what's this fetish with having him play wing.

 

[Gizmo Tkachuk]

I don't know what's this fetish with having him play wing.

There's no fetish. It's a matter of the current depth we have at center. No one wants to see Bjugstad, Malgin or Trocheck playing 4th line center.

 

[BravePackCats27]

Can anyone confirm what line he's been practicing on? Where he'll slot in?

 

[batting1k]

Can anyone confirm what line he's been practicing on? Where he'll slot in?

Morning skate isn't till 10:30. It's going to be the 3rd line if I had to guess...Gallant won't do anything too drastic

 

[Howboutthempanthers]

There's no fetish. It's a matter of the current depth we have at center. No one wants to see Bjugstad, Malgin or Trocheck playing 4th line center.

This has been going on for years.

 

[batting1k]

This has been going on for years.

His style of play makes more sense at the wing. Let Malgin feed him the puck and Bjugstad can use that shot more often. He's good in board battles. Less defensive responsibilities, maybe it'll open him up a bit more.

 

[Lundell4Prez]

When he changes to RW he'll be Blake Wheeler

 

[Howboutthempanthers]

His style of play makes more sense at the wing. Let Malgin feed him the puck and Bjugstad can use that shot more often. He's good in board battles. Less defensive responsibilities, maybe it'll open him up a bit more.

I don't know about that. He has more room in the middle of the ice, he actually has trouble along the boards because he is so tall.
It's a mental thing, I don't think he'll open up more, playing a position he's being forced to play. He'll try his best obviously, but it's just natural human instinct to feel demoted when you get moved from your position to another like that.
I mean, I don't know what would be so bad or has been so bad having this guy play center as opposed to playing wing.
He's still trying to find his niche due to being so big and trying to play within a team concept and not just going a solo forays to the net like he's perfectly capable of doing. It causes him to hesitate while he's trying to decide and then his game looks off. Of course smaller players are going to look better than he does in the adjustment stage, they don't have the option of taking to the net any time they want, they don't have to think, they just play the game and develop all parts of their game.

 

[Brokin]

Nick will see plenty of draws even as the RW as he is better in the FO circle than Malgin. It's not that hard to switch back.