Emil Bemström

March 2024 – Bemstrom was traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for Alex Nylander. The Penguins are clearly looking to give Bemstrom a legit shot in the NHL. Pat Quinn

November 2022 – Bemstrom has been reassigned to the Cleveland Monsters of the AHL after a seven game stint with the Blue Jackets. He posted four points in seven games with the big club and was even given some time on the top two forward lines. Bemstrom started the season strong with the Monsters, registering 17 points (nine goals, eight assists) in 12 games before being called up. He is only 23 years of age but time may be running out as he has not shown the expected success at the NHL level. Mark Dubreuil

March 2021 – After a successful rookie campaign that resulted in 20 points in 56 games, Bemström started off the 2020-21 season with a stint in the Liiga. Before returning for his sophomore season with Columbus, Emil scored 17 points in 16 games. The start of his second season has not been ideal, registering a mere two points in 15 games before an injury. He has all the skill, speed, and intelligence you want in a potential top-six forward down the line. Bemström was placed on IR after suffering an LBI during a March 18th practice. Sam McGilligan

September 2020 – The soon-to-be NHL sophomore has been loaned to HIFK Helsinki (Liiga). While it may be a step back in competition, it should equate to a higher volume in minutes and potentially higher offensive production. After struggling to find proper form during his inaugural season with the Blue Jackets, a few months of filling the net at a consistent pace should prove to be beneficial to his overall growth. Dave Hall

April 2020 – While he lacked consistency at times, Emil Bemstrom enjoyed a respectable rookie season. Although he posted just 10 goals and 10 assists on the year, the 20-year-old Swede managed to show glimpses of what’s to come in the future. His heavy shot and tenacity on the puck will be a nice piece to the Blue Jackets offensive core for years to come. With an increase in minutes and a spike in confidence,  there are definite signs of a future 25-plus goal scorer. With 52 hits on the season, there may even be signs of some peripheral stats, which of course makes him even more valuable to fantasy owners. Consider him a lock for next season. Dave Hall

December 2019 – You can add the Swedish rookie to the long list of injured Blue Jacket’s this season. The 20-year-old is expected to miss 6-8 weeks with torn cartilage and a dislocated rib. This comes as just another blow to a sub-par inaugural season for him. Aside from a nice five game point-streak in November, the fourth-rounder has failed to produce offensively. His three goals and nine points do not come as much surprise considering his team’s struggle to score as currently they sit bottom-three in league goals-for.  Bemstrom carries an elite shot and all the tools necessary to produce at this level. So while fantasy owners may have to wait until the team acquires some help, he still carries a top-six ceiling. Dave Hall

November 2019 – It has been a slow start for the Swedish rookie after only two assists in the month of October. The 20-year-old has looked much better since and currently sits with two goals and four assists, racking up points in four-straight games. Both of his goals have come on the man-advantage, skating on the team’s second power-play unit. With his NHL level shot and his elite skating, the fourth-round pick is considered a key part to the team’s rebuild. However, with the Jacket’s currently sitting dead last in league scoring combined with his fourth-line role, fantasy owners need to be patient. It is only a matter of time before he cracks the team’s top-six and starts contributing at even-strength. Dave Hall

October 2019 – Heading into the season as one of the Columbus Blue Jackets’ top prospects, Emil Bemstrom managed to secure himself a spot on the teams opening roster. With limited minutes thus far, the young sniper picked up his first career assist and seems to gain confidence with each shift. Bemstrom’s ability to get into the scoring areas, combined with his elite snapshot gives Columbus fans something to be excited for years to come. Given the teams struggle to find offense, look for them to utilize the young Swede more as he adjusts to North American pro hockey. Dave Hall

May 2019 – Columbus has signed Bemström to a three-year, entry-level contract. He is one of the Blue Jackets’ top prospects and will be coming to North America this fall. Which league he will be playing in remains to be seen. After leading the SHL in goals this year (23), he could break training camp with the Blue Jackets. At worst, he spends next season in the AHL. There is much fantasy value here but where the 19-year old plays will determine how much and how soon. Frank Pellegrini

January 2019 – Bemstrom was arguably Sweden’s most effective forward at the World Juniors, posting four goals and six points in five games. With his league club Djugardens IF, he has been a key cog offensively, amassing 23 points in 30 games. His development is progressing well, and it shouldn’t be too long until he is ready to cross the pond to play in the NHL. He is currently without a contract. Frank Pellegrini

December 2018 – Bemstrom has been named to the preliminary roster for Sweden in the 2018-2019 IIHF World Junior Championship (WJC) in British Columbia, Canada. Having represented the team last year, he should make the team again and play a key role. Frank Pellegrini

March 2018 – It’s been a solid year for Bemstrom, again exceeding a point-per-game pace at the SuperElit level with 12 goals and 13 assists in 18 contests, and 15 points (seven goals) in ten International Junior contests. He’s added seven goals and six assists, to go with 33 PIM against Allsvenskan competition. All prior to his 19th birthday. Kevin WIckersham

December 2017 – After tearing up the SuperElit league with 11 goals and 10 assists in 16 contests, Bemstrom moved up to Leksands’ IF adult squad in the Allsvenskan league where he’s comported himself well with five goals and four assists in 14 games. He’s also added 27 penalty minutes, an impressive amount for an 18-year-old, smaller player still establishing his grit against older opponents. Kevin Wickersham

October 2017 – Out to a fast start this campagin in Sweden’s SuperElit league with the high-powered Leksands IF J20 squad, Bemstrom’s registered ten goals (leading the club) and seven assists in 14 contests. He’s averaged more than a point per game in previous SuperElit play (now 50 points, 31 of them on goals, in 47 games) so this is nothing new for the 18-year-old, but may lead to a spot before long in the adult Swedish Hockey League. Kevin Wickersham 

August 2017 – Bemström put on an impressive show during the recently-concluded Four Nations U20 Tournament, particularly in Team Sweden’s contest against the Russian squad firing five shots on goal and potting two goals. Kevin Wickersham 

July 2017 – Very fleet on skates with a deft and multi-faceted scoring touch, Bemström led the Swedish SuperElit Leksands J20 squad with 21 goals in just 28 games, adding 12 assists and 35 penalty minutes (third-most on the team). He sees the ice very well and is adept at both distributing and putting the puck in the net, but most impresses when outracing and deking opponents in open ice. He doesn’t possess a huge frame but uses what he has to land hard checks and win battles in the corners and along the boards. Bemström is skilled in the faceoff circle as well. Played for Team Sweden in the U18 WJCs, tallying a goal and an assist in seven contests on the way to a bronze medal game loss to Russia. He’ll likely remain for the next year or two in Sweden building upon his previous five games of experience in the adult-level Swedish Hockey League. Kevin Wickersham