Teddy Blueger

Teddy Blueger
Bļugers with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2019
Born (1994-08-15) 15 August 1994 (age 30)
Riga, Latvia
Height 6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Weight 185 lb (84 kg; 13 st 3 lb)
Position Centre
Shoots Left
NHL team
Former teams		 Vancouver Canucks
Pittsburgh Penguins
Vegas Golden Knights
National team  Latvia
NHL draft 52nd overall, 2012
Pittsburgh Penguins
Playing career 2016–present

Teodors Bļugers (anglicized as Theodor "Teddy" Blueger; born 15 August 1994) is a Latvian professional ice hockey centre for the Vancouver Canucks of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected 52nd overall in the 2012 NHL entry draft by the Pittsburgh Penguins, making him the third-highest selected Latvian player in the NHL entry draft, behind Zemgus Girgensons and Sandis Ozoliņš.[1]

Bļugers played for Shattuck-Saint Mary's in Minnesota from 2009 to 2012 before committing to play collegiate ice hockey for Minnesota State. While attending Shattuck, he helped them clinch a USA Hockey national U18 title and 2011 Bauer/NIT tournament title. After graduating from Shattuck, Bļugers spent four seasons at Minnesota State where he earned All-Tournament Team honors. From there, Bļugers played in five seasons with Pittsburgh before he was traded to the Vegas Golden Knights at the 2023 trade deadline. Although he only played for part of the playoffs, Bļugers would win the Stanley Cup with the Golden Knights that season, and sign with the Canucks the following off-season.

Early life

Bļugers was born on 15 August 1994, in Riga, Latvia,[2] to parents Valentīns Bļugers and Jana Bļugere.[3][4] As his mother was a close friend to Elvis Merzļikins' parents, Bļugers and Merzļikins grew up playing together in Latvia.[5] As a youth, Bļugers played both ice hockey and soccer until he was 12 or 13. As such, he grew up a fan of FC Barcelona and Ronaldinho.[6] Due to his father's career as an attorney and a member of the Latvian Ice Hockey Federation, Bļugers attended the International School of Latvia before leaving for Shattuck-Saint Mary's in Faribault, Minnesota.[7] His younger brother Roberts also played for Shattuck-Saint Mary's from 2012 to 2016.[8] Bļugers chose to attend Shattuck after seeing a segment focusing on Shattuck alumnus Sidney Crosby.[9]

Playing career

Amateur

Bļugers played for Shattuck-Saint Mary's from 2009 until 2012 and he helped lead them to a USA Hockey national U18 title and 2011 Bauer/NIT tournament title.[3]

He committed to a collegiate career with Minnesota State and played four seasons in the NCAA from 2012 to 2016.[3] Bļugers was named to the All-Tournament Team for the 2014 WCHA Men's Ice Hockey Tournament.[10] In 2015–16, Bļugers was named to the All-WCHA First Team.[11]

Pittsburgh Penguins

Bļugers with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2019.

On 22 March 2016, Bļugers signed an entry-level agreement with the Pittsburgh Penguins.[12] He finished the 2015–16 season with Penguins' AHL affiliate, the Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins playing in 10 games. In his first full season with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, Bļugers set a new franchise record for plus-minus rating by a rookie with a +24.[13]

Bļugers made his NHL debut on 30 January 2019, in Pittsburgh's game against the Tampa Bay Lightning.[14][15][16] On 1 February 2019, Bļugers scored his first NHL goal, against the Ottawa Senators in a 5–3 Penguins win.[17]

On 16 July 2019, Bļugers re-signed with the Penguins on a two-year, one-way contract with an average annual value of $750,000.[16] On 14 July 2021, he was re-signed to a two-year, $4.4 million contract extension with the Penguins.[18]

Vegas Golden Knights

Bļugers was traded to the Vegas Golden Knights on 1 March 2023, in exchange for a third-round pick in 2024 and prospect Peter DiLiberatore.[19] He made an immediate impact to the Golden Knights fourth line, scoring four points through his first eight games.[20] However, he would only add two more points over his next 10 games to end the regular season with six points.[21] When the Golden Knights faced off against the Dallas Stars in the Western Conference finals of the 2023 Stanley Cup playoffs, Bļugers scored his first goal of the postseason in Game 1.[22] He finished the postseason with two points over six games as the Golden Knights won their first Stanley Cup in franchise history.[23] Although his name was not immediately eligible to be placed on the Stanley Cup,[24] the Golden Knights petitioned for his name to be added.[25]

Vancouver Canucks

On 1 July 2023, Bļugers left the Golden Knights as a free agent and was signed to a one-year, $1.9 million deal with the Vancouver Canucks for the 2023–24 season.[23] While with the Canucks, Bļugers tallied his 100th career NHL point on 24 November, against the Seattle Kraken.[26] On June 26, 2024, Bļugers agreed to terms on a two-year contract with the Canucks worth $1.8 million in average annual value. [27]

International play

Bļugers with Latvia in 2013

Bļugers has represented Latvia at the international junior level, appearing in the 2011 IIHF World U18 Championships and four World Junior Ice Hockey Championships. He made his senior debut when he was selected to play for Latvia at the 2017 IIHF World Championship.[28] The following year, he was again named to the Latvia national team to compete at the 2018 IIHF World Championship.[29]

Personal life

Bļugers married his wife, whom he met at Minnesota State, in 2021.[6]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2009–10 Shattuck St. Mary's Midget 53 20 40 60 84 — — — — —
2010–11 Shattuck St. Mary's USHS 54 24 42 66 32 — — — — —
2011–12 Shattuck St. Mary's USHS 51 24 64 88 63 — — — — —
2012–13 Minnesota State WCHA 37 6 13 19 40 — — — — —
2013–14 Minnesota State WCHA 40 4 22 26 55 — — — — —
2014–15 Minnesota State WCHA 37 10 18 28 26 — — — — —
2015–16 Minnesota State WCHA 41 11 24 35 29 — — — — —
2015–16 Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins AHL 10 0 0 0 2 10 0 1 1 4
2016–17 Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins AHL 54 7 24 31 20 5 1 0 1 2
2017–18 Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins AHL 70 21 24 45 43 3 0 2 2 4
2018–19 Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins AHL 45 21 18 39 18 — — — — —
2018–19 Pittsburgh Penguins NHL 28 6 4 10 15 1 0 0 0 0
2019–20 Pittsburgh Penguins NHL 69 9 13 22 25 4 1 0 1 0
2020–21 Pittsburgh Penguins NHL 43 7 15 22 16 6 0 0 0 2
2021–22 Pittsburgh Penguins NHL 65 9 19 28 10 7 0 1 1 2
2022–23 Pittsburgh Penguins NHL 45 2 8 10 16 — — — — —
2022–23 Vegas Golden Knights NHL 18 2 4 6 14 6 1 1 2 0
2023–24 Vancouver Canucks NHL 68 6 22 28 31 13 0 2 2 6
NHL totals 336 41 85 126 127 37 2 4 6 10

International

Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM
2011 Latvia U18 D1 11th 4 4 1 5 0
2012 Latvia WJC 9th 6 1 2 3 6
2012 Latvia U18 9th 6 2 2 4 6
2013 Latvia WJC 10th 6 1 2 3 8
2014 Latvia WJC D1A 12th 3 0 1 1 8
2017 Latvia WC 10th 7 1 0 1 6
2018 Latvia WC 8th 5 1 2 3 0
2019 Latvia WC 10th 7 1 3 4 6
Junior totals 40 12 18 30 42
Senior totals 19 3 5 8 12

Awards and honours

Award Year Ref
College
WCHA All-Tournament Team 2014
All-WCHA First Team 2015–16 [30]
NHL
Stanley Cup champion 2023 [25]

References

  1. ^ LETA (22 March 2016). "Bļugers paraksta sākuma līmeņa līgumu ar NHL klubu 'Penguins'" (in Latvian). delfi.lv. Retrieved 9 May 2016.
  2. ^ "Teodors Blugers". Elite Prospects. Retrieved 11 December 2023.
  3. ^ a b c "TEDDY BLUEGER". Minnesota State University. Retrieved 10 December 2023.
  4. ^ Grundmanis, Kārlis (20 June 2023). "Bļugera tētis: Viņš jau no bērnības bija maksimālists - Hokeja ziņas" [Father of Bļugers: He was a perfectionist since childhood]. HokejaZiņas.com (in Latvian). Retrieved 22 July 2024.
  5. ^ Rorabaugh, Seth (29 November 2019). "From Latvia to NHL, Penguins' Teddy Blueger's friendship with Columbus' Elvis Merzlikins endures". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Archived from the original on 30 April 2022. Retrieved 11 December 2023.
  6. ^ a b Crechiolo, Michelle (27 July 2021). "Teddy Blueger Having a Summer to Remember". National Hockey League. Retrieved 11 December 2023.
  7. ^ Reed, Tom (22 May 2021). "Teddy Blueger never stopped answering that one phone call". DK Pittsburgh Sports. Retrieved 11 December 2023.
  8. ^ "Roberts Blueger". eliteprospects.com. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
  9. ^ Drance, Thomas; Dayal, Harman (22 September 2023). "Canucks training camp: Reading into lines, Pettersson speaks and a hidden bag skate". The Athletic. Archived from the original on 22 September 2023. Retrieved 11 December 2023.
  10. ^ "Mavericks Win 2014 WCHA Final Five Championship". Minnesota State University - Mankato Athletics. 25 September 2023.
  11. ^ "2015-16 WCHA Awards | Nelson, Blueger, Gervais, Huggins, Coatta & Brickley Feted". Minnesota State University - Mankato Athletics. 25 September 2023.
  12. ^ Pittsburgh Penguins (22 March 2016). "Penguins Sign Forward Teddy Blueger to a Two-Year, Entry-Level Contract". nhl.com. Retrieved 8 May 2016.
  13. ^ "2018 Calder Cup playoffs Wilkes-Barre /Scranton Penguins Player Bios and Season Stats" (PDF). wbspenguins.com. 26 April 2018. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
  14. ^ "With Derick Brassard out with an injury, Teddy Blueger makes NHL debut". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
  15. ^ "Penguins' Teddy Blueger back in the lineup after short minor league stay | TribLIVE.com". triblive.com. March 2019.
  16. ^ a b "Penguins Re-Sign Forward Teddy Blueger to a Two-Year Contract". NHL.com. 30 September 2023.
  17. ^ "Teddy Blueger picks up first NHL goal and impresses his coach". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
  18. ^ "Penguins Re-Sign Forward Teddy Blueger to a Two-Year Contract". NHL.com. 14 July 2021. Retrieved 22 October 2021.
  19. ^ "VGK Acquire Forward Teddy Blueger From Pittsburgh Penguins". National Hockey League. 1 March 2023. Retrieved 11 December 2023.
  20. ^ Gotz, Ben (17 March 2023). "Knights' new center learning little things that come with trade". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Archived from the original on 18 March 2023. Retrieved 11 December 2023.
  21. ^ Horwat, Nick (18 April 2023). "Former Penguins To Follow During 2023 NHL Playoffs". The Hockey News. Retrieved 11 December 2023.
  22. ^ Weigers, Gordon (8 August 2023). "The Sixteen: Howden's Heroics Seal Game 1 of Western Conference Final". National Hockey League. Retrieved 11 December 2023.
  23. ^ a b "Canucks Agree to Terms with Teddy Blueger on a One-Year Contract". National Hockey League. 1 July 2023. Retrieved 11 December 2023.
  24. ^ Horwat, Nick (14 June 2023). "Former Penguins Phil Kessel and Teddy Blueger Hoist the Stanley Cup". The Hockey News. Retrieved 11 December 2023.
  25. ^ a b "Golden Knights names engraved on Stanley Cup". National Hockey League. 7 July 2023. Retrieved 11 December 2023.
  26. ^ Brown, Darren (25 November 2023). "Canucks pull away in 3rd period, defeat Kraken". National Hockey League. Retrieved 11 December 2023.
  27. ^ "Canucks Agree to Terms with Forward Teddy Blueger on a Two-Year Contract". National Hockey League. 26 June 2024. Retrieved 26 June 2024.
  28. ^ Cole, Brian (3 May 2017). "BLUEGER JOINS TEAM LATVIA AFTER EXPECTATION-SHATTERING SEASON". wbspenguins.com. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
  29. ^ Merk, Martin (10 May 2018). "Latvia adds Blugers". new-iihf.com. Retrieved 10 May 2018.
  30. ^ "Awards - NCAA (WCHA) First All-Star Team". Elite Prospects. Retrieved 15 November 2018.