After several mediocre years in 2016 and 2017, Panther fans and management began to gradually lose confidence in Nick Bjugstad.
For quite some time, Bjugstad’s name was heavily mentioned in trade rumors, with an abundance of Panther fans practically begging for Nick’s departure via trade. The 2017-18 season seemed like the power forward’s final opportunity to prove himself in a Florida Panthers’ uniform. Spoiler alert: Nick Bjugstad did not disappoint!
While participating in all 82 regular season contests (first time in his career), Big Nick registered a respectable slash line of 19G, 30A, for 49 points on the year.