Teddy Blueger
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,[1] making him the third-highest selected Latvian hockey player in the NHL Entry Draft, behind Zemgus Girgensons and Sandis Ozoliņš.[2]
| Teddy Blueger | |||
|---|---|---|---|
.jpg.webp) Bļugers with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2019 | |||
| Born |
15 August 1994 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 | ||
Playing career
Bļugers began playing hockey in BHS hockey school, founded by former Dinamo Rīga player Helmuts Balderis.[3]
In 2009 Bļugers moved to North America to play high school hockey at Shattuck-Saint Mary's in Faribault, Minnesota. He committed to a collegiate career with Minnesota State University, Mankato and played four seasons in the NCAA from 2012 to 2016.[4] Bļugers was named to the All-Tournament Team for the 2014 WCHA Men's Ice Hockey Tournament.[5] In 2015–16, Bļugers was named to the All-WCHA First Team.[6]
On 22 March 2016, Bļugers signed an entry-level agreement with the Pittsburgh Penguins.[7] 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.[8]
Bļugers made his NHL debut on 30 January 2019, in Pittsburgh's game against the Tampa Bay Lightning.[9][10][11] On 1 February 2019, Bļugers scored his first NHL goal, against the Ottawa Senators in a 5–3 Penguins win.[12]
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.[11] On 14 July 2021, he was re-signed to a two-year, $4.4 million contract extension with the Penguins.[13]
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.[14] He then won his first Stanley Cup in the 2023 Stanley Cup Finals.[15]
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.[16]
International play
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.[17] The following year, he was again named to the Latvia national team to compete at the 2018 IIHF World Championship.[18]
Personal life
Bļugers has a younger brother, Roberts, who also plays hockey.[19]
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 | ||
| NHL totals | 268 | 35 | 63 | 98 | 96 | 24 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 4 | ||||
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 | |
|---|---|---|
| College | ||
| WCHA All-Tournament Team | 2014 | |
| All-WCHA First Team | 2015–16 | [20] |
| NHL | ||
| Stanley Cup champion | 2023 | [21] |
References
- NHL. "Pittsburgh Penguins 2012 draft 2nd round selections". nhl.com. Retrieved 8 June 2016.
- LETA (22 March 2016). "Bļugers paraksta sākuma līmeņa līgumu ar NHL klubu 'Penguins'" (in Latvian). delfi.lv. Retrieved 9 May 2016.
- EliteProspects. "HOCKEY PLAYERS FROM BHS". eliteprospects.com. Retrieved 8 May 2016.
- "TEDDY BLUEGER". msumavericks.com. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
- "Mavericks Win 2014 WCHA Final Five Championship". Minnesota State University - Mankato Athletics. 25 September 2023.
- "2015-16 WCHA Awards | Nelson, Blueger, Gervais, Huggins, Coatta & Brickley Feted". Minnesota State University - Mankato Athletics. 25 September 2023.
- Pittsburgh Penguins (22 March 2016). "Penguins Sign Forward Teddy Blueger to a Two-Year, Entry-Level Contract". nhl.com. Retrieved 8 May 2016.
- "2018 Calder Cup playoffs Wilkes-Barre /Scranton Penguins Player Bios and Season Stats" (PDF). wbspenguins.com. 26 April 2018. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
- "With Derick Brassard out with an injury, Teddy Blueger makes NHL debut". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
- "Penguins' Teddy Blueger back in the lineup after short minor league stay | TribLIVE.com". triblive.com. March 2019.
- "Penguins Re-Sign Forward Teddy Blueger to a Two-Year Contract". NHL.com. 30 September 2023.
- "Teddy Blueger picks up first NHL goal and impresses his coach". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
- "Penguins Re-Sign Forward Teddy Blueger to a Two-Year Contract". NHL.com. 14 July 2021. Retrieved 22 October 2021.
- "VGK Acquire Forward Teddy Blueger From Pittsburgh Penguins". NHL.com. 1 March 2023. Retrieved 2 March 2023.
- Eliņš, Rolands (14 June 2023). "Teodora Bļugera vārds būs iegravēts uz Stenlija kausa". Sportacentrs.com (in Latvian). Retrieved 15 June 2023.
- "Canucks agree to terms with Teddy Blueger on a one-year contract". Vancouver Canucks. 1 July 2023. Retrieved 1 July 2023.
- Cole, Brian (3 May 2017). "BLUEGER JOINS TEAM LATVIA AFTER EXPECTATION-SHATTERING SEASON". wbspenguins.com. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
- Merk, Martin (10 May 2018). "Latvia adds Blugers". new-iihf.com. Retrieved 10 May 2018.
- "Roberts Blueger". eliteprospects.com. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
- "Awards - NCAA (WCHA) First All-Star Team". Elite Prospects. Retrieved 15 November 2018.
- Brewer, Contessa (14 June 2023). "Golden Knights' Stanley Cup win cements Las Vegas as a big-time sports city". CNBC. Retrieved 18 June 2023.
External links
- Biographical information and career statistics from NHL.com, or Eliteprospects.com, or Eurohockey.com, or Hockey-Reference.com, or The Internet Hockey Database