Tufte (6-foot-6, 220 pounds), chosen by the Dallas Stars with the No. 25 pick in the 2016 NHL Draft, has the same combination of size and skating abilities that Bjugstad (6-6, 218) has used to dazzle in the League.
They are not only similar on the ice, but friends off it.
Each is from Blaine, Minnesota, a suburb of the Twin Cities.
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Bjugstad, 25, played hockey with Tufte's older brother Gavin growing up, which naturally meant Tufte, 19, was tagging along on their heels.
Tufte often turns to Bjugstad for advice even when Bjugstad, who is in his sixth NHL season, admits he might not always have any to offer.
Tufte called Wednesday, eager to talk about the Frozen Four. UMD plays Ohio State in the Frozen Four semifinal at Xcel Energy Center on Thursday (6 p.m. ET; ESPN2).
"I talked to Riley last night and said I'd give him advice, but this is his third game in the Frozen Four and I only have one, so I don't have much to tell him," said Bjugstad, who lost in the 2012 Frozen Four semifinal while with the University of Minnesota.
A more developed and skilled Tufte will be on display in UMD's second straight trip to the Frozen Four. The Bulldogs lost to the University of Denver 3-2 in the title game last April.
This season, Tufte led the Bulldogs with 16 goals and ranked third on the team with 39 points.
It was a 180-degree turnaround from the 16 points (nine goals, seven assists) he scored during his freshman season when he was held scoreless for the first 14 games of his college career.
"He had a tough first half, which I did as well, point-wise," said Bjugstad, who has 46 points (18 goals, 28 assists) this season for the Panthers. "Coming in, it's an adjustment. There can be some stints in there where it can be frustrating and you're looking at other guys putting up all the points, and it's not always about that. It's about developing your game and getting better every day.
"[College hockey] is a stepping stone and he's getting better and better with time."
Bjugstad said because Tufte is taking a developmental approach to his game, he doesn't anticipate the forward to rush into professional hockey.
"He's a very skilled big player and I think he's still growing into his body and I think he's just going to get better with time," Bjugstad said "Whatever he decides to do, I'm sure he'll develop in the right way just because he works hard. He's a good kid. He's pretty similar to me, as far as size and maturity, so whatever he decides to do, he'll be good either way."
Bjugstad has an important game of his own Thursday when the Panthers fight for their lives in the hunt for a place in the Stanley Cup Playoffs with an elimination game against the Boston Bruins (7:30 p.m. ET; TVAS, FS-F, NESN, NHL.TV).
So, Bjugstad will have to wait to see how his friend does in his latest Frozen Four foray.
"I'm a Minnesota Gopher guy, but I'm a big Riley Tufte guy too; so I'm rooting him on."
