Blue Jackets trade Gustav Nyquist for Wild: Why Minnesota acquired Columbus forward

Written by Pierre Lebrun, Eric Duhaczyk, Michael Russo, and Aaron Bortzlin

The Minnesota Wild have acquired forward Gustav Nyquist from the Columbus Blue Jackets in exchange for his 2023 fifth-round pick, the teams announced Tuesday. Here’s what you need to know:

• Nyquist has been out of action since January 25 with a shoulder injury. Columbus announced earlier this month that it is He is expected to miss the rest of the seasonbut Nyquist said he would work to return sooner.
• He scored 22 points in 48 games this season before getting injured.
• Nyquist appeared in all 82 games last season, totaling 53 points, after missing the entire 2020-21 season with a shoulder injury.
• The Blue Jackets kept 50 percent of Nyquist’s contract. That leaves Wild with just under $1.7 million in cap space or the ability to add up to $7.4 million players, a source on the team confirmed to the athlete.

Scout report

Nyquist said in the wake of the team’s announcement that he will miss the remainder of the season with a shoulder injury the athleteAaron Bortzlin said on February 1 that the injury would cost him “weeks, not months, and not require surgery.” That left the door open for trade. If he could return, Nyquist would have value as rent. The 33-year-old and a respected veteran would be a low-maintenance addition to a team seeking depth up front in their Stanley Cup run. – Duhachik

Why did Nyquist hunt wild?

It was the Wild’s second trade on Tuesday after sending a third run to Washington to fetch Nyquist’s Swedish native Marcus Johansson. Nyquist is a quick, skilful, hard-working winger who can play up and down the Wild line-up. He has scored 174 goals and 423 points in 700 NHL games. – Rousseau

Nyquist is a classic “minor” scorer, a player who can complete adequate players on the first line, but who is well suited to a skilled second line or third line. Last season, he had an 18-35-53 and played in 82 games with Columbus, the second-best season of his career. He had a 10-12-22 in 48 games at the time of the injury. He is a reliable defensive player, takes little risk offensively and quickly gains the coaches’ trust. He is also an excellent penalty killer due to his quick hands and excellent anticipation. – Portzline

Nyquist injury history

Nyquist suffered a shoulder injury on January 25 in Edmonton. It was the same shoulder he had surgically repaired in 2020, causing him to miss the entire 2020-21 season. However, this injury did not require surgery, and he is expected to return before the end of the regular season and certainly before the playoffs. – Portzline

what are they saying

Blue Jackets General Manager Jarmo Kekalainen on Nyquist:

“Nyquist is a first-rate person who has brought a great deal of professionalism, leadership and commitment to our organization on and off the ice over the past five years,” said Kikalainen. “We wish him, his wife Danielle and his family all the best for the future.”

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(Photo: Russell Labonte/USA Today)