Bjugstad Embracing Leadership Role in Return to Arizona

Multiple teams showed interest in Coyotes forward Nick Bjugstad this offseason.

In the end, his heart was in Arizona.

Bjugstad signed a two-year contract with the Coyotes on July 1, returning to The Valley after playing 59 games with the team during the 2022-23 season. He was traded to the Edmonton Oilers on March 2 in exchange for defenseman Michael Kesselring and a third-round pick in the 2023 NHL Draft (Vadim Moroz), and he went on to record six points in 19 regular-season games and three goals in 12 playoff games.

When the start of the free agent signing period commenced last month, the 31-year-old was faced with a decision on where he would play next season, and beyond. Given his experience with both teammates and the coaching staff during his first stint in The Valley, though, it wasn't a terribly hard one for him to make.

It simply felt right.

"My heart was with the team and with the guys that that I see continuing to grow and get better," Bjugstad said. "It was pretty easy with André (Tourigny) as coach, who I really respect as a leader, a coach, and a teacher. That was high on the priority list."

The former first-round pick (19th overall, 2010) wasn't alone in his decision, either, considering defenseman Troy Stecher also returned to the Coyotes following his departure to the Calgary Flames at last year's trade deadline.

Add to it the

impressive offseason haul

of Sean Durzi, Matt Dumba, Logan Cooley, Jason Zucker, and Alex Kerfoot completed by General Manager Bill Armstrong, and Bjugstad isn't just excited to be part of the culture in Arizona's locker room this season - he wants to continue to help develop it in 2023-24.

His 29-point output last season marked his most points since recording 49 with the Florida Panthers in 2017-18, and he said he felt right at home from the moment he arrived.

"I had a few down years personally, so I wanted to come in and just try to find a role and try to be myself. Sometimes it's hard with a new team, but it was easy to transition with these guys," Bjugstad said. "I just wanted to put my best foot forward and find that opportunity, which I was graciously given by the staff, so I just kind of rolled with it."

Bjugstad established himself early on as a leader in the locker room, which also carried over into his time with the Oilers. He had already played with some of the game's biggest names during his time with the Penguins from 2018-19, so his transition to becoming teammates with superstars like Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl was something he had already experienced.

That experience reinforced what he had already seen from the likes of three-time Stanley Cup winners Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin - preparation is key.

"When I went into Edmonton, you could tell these guys are young, hungry and at the point in their careers where they're in their prime, so they wanted to win every game. There was a laser focus in their eyes, and that definitely trickled down to the rest of the team, especially the younger guys," Bjugstad said. "The details that go into it, the passion, they just want to win. Just the intensity and the mental focus of even pregame skates, and how important that is as a pro to really bring that intentional energy every time you're at the rink.

"We're not there too long, and when we are there, you have to be very, very present. That's what I noticed about the best players. Their every emotion, every thought, is with the moment of the team or whatever drill they're working on. They're not worried about anything outside of that."

Bjugstad's locker room stature precedes him, and both current-and-former teammates have raved about his presence throughout his career. He had a small hand in

helping recruit Dumba

to The Valley, as the two knew each other from playing together with the Minnesota Wild during the 2020-21 and 2021-22 seasons.

The 29-year-old Dumba has spent the first 10 years of his career in Minnesota but said Bjugstad had texted him "every other day" until the day he signed.

That culminated in a chance encounter at a wedding earlier this summer, where Dumba said Bjugstad "caught me and put the clamps on me," and his persistence eventually paid off after the blueliner signed with the Coyotes on Aug. 7.

"I was excited when he finally signed because he was holding out on me," Bjugstad said with a laugh. "I know what kind of person he is, and what kind of player he is, and by adding him I am confident that he's going to help our team in numerous ways."

Part of what makes Bjugstad so relatable, both as a teammate and a person, is how active he is in the community. He was always visible in the Arizona community last season, whether it was at

Phoenix Children's Christmas Toy Drive

or

hosting floor hockey clinics

with Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Scottsdale, and he has also established his own charity, 'Goals 4 Kids,' which focuses on the off-ice goals of children.

"We do some stuff on ice, but my favorite part is going off ice and doing worksheets with them to help teach them about short-term goal setting, long-term goal setting, and how you can understand what it takes to reach those goals, whether it's playing hockey or being an astronaut, whatever it may be," Bjugstad said, adding he would have become a teacher had professional hockey not panned out. "I just want to encourage kids to set their sights at a young age on what they're passionate about and make attainable goals in the process."

As the offseason begins to wind down, though, Bjugstad has his sights set on helping the Coyotes start the 2023-24 season on the right foot, which, as he said, "begins with having a great training camp."

From there, one of the ways he'll lead will revolve around the very thing that helped bring him back to the team from the beginning:

Heart.

"A lot of us have played for Bear, we understand the systems and understand the expectation of what effort looks like day in day out," Bjugstad said. "I think this team can grow each day. The winning culture is something that both Bill (Armstrong) and the coaches expect, and I'm looking forward to trying to surprise some people, and just having a fun season with these guys."