The 19th overall pick in the 2010 NHL Draft, 22-year-old center Nick Bjugstad burst onto the NHL scene last year, bringing excitement to an otherwise disappointing 2013-14 campaign for the Florida Panthers.

A former standout at the University of Minnesota, Bjugstad became the first rookie to ever capture the Panthers regular-season scoring title with 38 points in 76 games.

Making a quick ascension up the depth chart due to injuries to key players like top-line center Aleksander Barkov, Bjugstad’s point total placed him fifth in the league among all rookies.

Recently, FOXSportsFlorida.com’s Jameson Olive caught up with Bjugstad to discuss his first offseason as a full-time NHL player as well as his thoughts on the team’s new-look roster.

FOX SPORTS FLORIDA: Coming off your first full year in the NHL, how did you spend your offseason?

NICK BJUGSTAD: It was pretty similar as far as training and skating goes. I just knew I had to work on a lot more little things than I have in the past. I think that will benefit me this year, just kind of knowing what the NHL is like is a good thing to have in the summer. You can think about plays and stuff like that. It’s definitely a confidence booster to be able to get that first year under your belt.

FSF: In the past you’ve spent your summers training at your alma mater in Minnesota. Did you have a similar routine this summer?

BJUGSTAD: I was there the whole summer and had a lot of good training. A lot of good players come back there. It’s kind of a hot spot for the state.

FSF: Were there any other NHL players training with you?

BJUGSTAD: The last month of August we had a really good skate. We had guys like (Zach) Parise, (Kyle) Okposo, just a lot of guys from Minnesota. (Thomas) Vanek, a lot of good players. It’s really good. We had some really good skates and they’re obviously top notch.

FSF: You skated with a lot of those guys when you were still in college, is it different now that you’re in the NHL as well?

BJUGSTAD: Yeah, I kind of used to look at it like I didn’t even feel like I could play at the same level as them. Obviously, they’re still a ways ahead of me, but it is fun playing with them knowing I get to play against them during the year. We definitely get to throw some chirps around and get to know each other over the summer.

FSF: During the offseason, the Panthers were also working hard to acquire several key veteran free agents. Among them were centers Dave Bolland and Derek MacKenzie. Do you feel any added pressure with these additions?

BJUGSTAD: I think it’s fortunate that we are very deep at center, especially with these older guys that came in. I think guys like Bolland and MacKenzie are going to be really good mentors for guys like me and (Aleksander) Barkov and (Vincent) Trocheck and (Drew) Shore. I think it’s a really good thing. It’s competitive. They seem like great guys in the locker room so I think it’ll be good, all around, for the young guys.

FSF: Speaking of the locker room, I’ve already heard from several players that great chemistry is already being developed. What’s your take on the locker room at this point?

BJUGSTAD: Yeah, guys are definitely happy to be here. They’re ready to get the season going. I think it’s going to be a good turnaround. We have the right guys and it’s just going to come down to the chemistry. If we’re playing together well on the ice, if we’re working with each other well I think it could be a good season.

FSF: One man in particular hoping for a quick turnaround is new head coach Gerard Gallant. What are your thoughts on him after these first few practices?

BJUGSTAD: We’re going to learn his system. I like his style of play already. It’s going to be fun learning a new way and I think guys are going to buy into his system.

FSF: As for personal goals, have you set any benchmarks for yourself for the upcoming season?

BJUGSTAD: I don’t really set individual stat goals. Just because when I start thinking about stats it goes the wrong way. It’s more just individual, game-by-game, day-by-day little things that lead to goals. I don’t really pay attention to the stats, you try not to. It’s just all the little things that count. I’m not setting any standard for the year.

FSF: Off the ice, you’re also preparing for your second season as a Floridian. Have you picked up any South Florida hobbies yet?

BJUGSTAD: I do a lot of fishing. It sounds like Willie Mitchell and a few of the other guys like to fish so that’ll be good to connect off the ice with those guys. Last year I just fished the canals and did a few deep-sea fishing trips. I love doing that.

FSF: Any good fishing stories?

BJUGSTAD: Actually, me and (Jonathan) Huberdeau went this summer when we were here for little kid camp. We caught some big Mahi-Mahi. Not huge, but they were pretty big, so that was fun. Huby had never really been fishing so he enjoyed that. There were big waves so we were both pretty scared. I think I was more scared than him actually, but it was a good time.

You can follow Jameson Olive on Twitter @JamesonCoop or email him at JamesonOlive@gmail.com.