The St. Louis Blues have traded forward Nick Bjugstad to the New Jersey Devils in exchange for forward Thomas Bordeleau and a conditional 2026 fourth-round draft pick. The deal was completed just ahead of the NHL's Olympic roster freeze. Bjugstad, who has recorded six goals and one assist in 35 games this season, brings veteran experience to the Devils.
The trade between the St. Louis Blues and New Jersey Devils involves forward Nick Bjugstad moving to New Jersey in return for Thomas Bordeleau and a conditional fourth-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft. This pick is the last of three fourth-round selections the Devils currently hold.
Bjugstad, a 33-year-old veteran, has notched six goals and one assist in 35 appearances with the Blues during the 2025-26 season. He signed a two-year contract with St. Louis in the summer of 2025 at a cap hit of $1.75 million, which extends through the following season. Last year, Bjugstad tallied eight goals and 19 points in 66 games with the Utah Hockey Club. Drafted 19th overall by the Florida Panthers in 2010, he has amassed 163 goals and 337 points across 795 career NHL games with teams including the Panthers, Pittsburgh Penguins, Minnesota Wild, Arizona Coyotes, Edmonton Oilers, and Blues.
The Devils announced the acquisition on social media: "We’ve acquired forward Nick Bjugstad from the St. Louis Blues for forward Thomas Bordeleau and a conditional 2026 fourth-round draft pick."
In exchange, the Blues receive Bordeleau, a 24-year-old forward selected in the second round by the San Jose Sharks in 2020. This season, Bordeleau has two goals and eight points in 35 games with the AHL's Utica Comets. Over 44 NHL games with the Sharks from 2021 to 2025, he recorded six goals and 18 points.
The Blues, holding a 20-27-9 record and sitting second-last in the NHL standings, may pursue additional moves before the trade deadline. Reports indicate they are open to discussions regarding forwards Robert Thomas, Jordan Kyrou, and Brayden Schenn, as well as defensemen Colton Parayko and Justin Faulk, and goaltender Jordan Binnington.
Meanwhile, the Devils are also struggling, placing second-last in the Eastern Conference and trailing the Boston Bruins by 10 points for the final wild-card spot.