The Blue Jackets announced Tuesday evening that veteran forward Gustav Nyquist was traded to the Minnesota Wild. In return, the team received a fifth-round pick in the 2023 draft that was originally owned by the Boston Bruins.
“Gustav Nyquist is a first-class person, who brought great professionalism, leadership and commitment to our organization both on and off the ice over the last five years,” Blue Jackets GM Jarmo Kekalainen said in the team's release. “We wish he and his wife, Danielle, and their family all the best in the future.”
This season, the 33-year-old posted 10 goals and 12 assists in 48 games before suffering a shoulder injury on Jan. 25 against the Oilers that has kept him out of the team's last 11 games. While the Blue Jackets said the injury was season-ending, Nyquist disputed that diagnosis in an interview with Aaron Portzline of The Athletic.
“It’s weeks, not months, and it doesn’t require surgery," Nyquist told Portzline. "My hope, honestly, is to be ready before the end of the regular season. My goal is to be back before the regular season is over. I’m hoping this heals fairly quickly.”
In three seasons with the Jackets since signing in Columbus in 2019, Nyquist has recorded 43 goals and 117 points in 200 regular-season games along with two assists in 10 playoff games. He missed the entire 2020-21 season with a shoulder injury.
In 12 seasons with the Red Wings, Sharks, and Blue Jackets, he's played in 700 regular-season games, posting 174 goals and 423 points while adding five goals and 21 points in 65 playoff games.
Nyquist is in the final year of a four-year deal, earning $5.5M against the salary cap. He is a pending unrestricted free agent.
