Penguins Transformation Begins

The Pittsburgh Penguins are 25-21-8 and in 2nd to last place in the Metropolitan Division. The rumors and whispers have been heating up that Penguins' GM Kyle Dubas is about to make every Penguin available except the core 3 of Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang. 

The first of possibly many deals was made on Thursday as the Penguins sent winger Alex Nylander and a conditional 6th round pick in 2026 to the Columbus Blue Jackets for center Emil Bemström.

It appeared that Nylander was not a favorite of head coach Mike Sullivan and his style of play. In the past 2 seasons, Nylander dressed in 14 games for the Penguins and had a goal and an assist. He was the 8th overall pick in the 2016 NHL entry draft and has never lived up to his offensive expectations. 

In Bemström, the Penguins receive a 24-year-old who has the speed needed to play Mike Sullivan’s style of hockey. So far this season, Bemström has 5 goals in 6 assists in 32 games. Last season, he posted a career high 22 points in 55 games. A 4th round pick in 2017 by the Columbus Blue Jackets, he was a prospect with high offensive skills who can play a two-way game.

Bemström played his junior hockey in Sweden. He was named the junior player of the year by the Swedish ice hockey journalist association after the 2018-2019 season. 

Bemström had 10 goals and 10 assists in 56 games as a rookie for Columbus during the 2019-2020 season. 5 of his 10 goals were on the power play and he showed the ability to play in all different situations including shorthanded as well. In 204 NHL games, he has scored 31 goals and 38 assists, with 12 of his goals coming on the power play.

Bemström can play both wing or center and has the acumen to become a scorer at the NHL level. He has put his skills to use in the AHL and this season, he has 10 goals and 4 assists in only 8 games. Last season for the Cleveland Monsters of the AHL, he scored 14 goals and 17 assists in only 21 games. He is a good skater who has a quick release and knows where to go to score goals. He has excelled over his career on the power play and possesses a quick wrist shot with accuracy. He can play on both special teams and is smart with his puck movement and decisions. At 6’0” and 195 lbs. he is weak on the stick and is not a guy who is going to win battles in the corners. His play has lacked consistency and urgency and he will need to improve in both areas to excel on a night in and night out basis in the NHL. 

Kyle Dubas wants the Penguins to get younger and this is a move that starts the process. Bemström is only 24-years-old and has shown enough flash that maybe he can find his way in Pittsburgh with a fresh start. He will play bottom 6 for now and with the Penguins' power play being ranked #30 out of 32 teams, don’t be surprised to see him get some work on that unit. 

Draft Nation Stats

4th round pick of the Columbus Blue Jackets in the 2017 NHL Draft.