Columbus Blue Jackets forward Emil Bemstrom has cleared waivers and will likely be sent to the American Hockey League's Cleveland Monsters. There was a decent chance the 24-year-old could be claimed considering his mild $900K cap hit and his excellent minor-league production. Bemstrom tallied seven goals and 22 points across 55 games with the Blue Jackets last season but also put forth a healthy 14 goals and 31 points across just 21 AHL contests. He has notched three goals and four points in 12 games this season but has fallen out of favor with first-year head coach Paval Vincent. Kent Johnson is a candidate to be promoted to take Bemstrom's spot on the roster.
Columbus Blue Jackets winger Emil Bemstrom (undisclosed) is a game-time call for Thursday's game against Montreal. He missed Wednesday's practice with an undisclosed issue and it's unknown if Bemstrom is 100 percent healthy. However, he did join the team for the morning skate, so it appears that Bemstrom is likely to play. He's been a top-six forward for the team lately, and even moved to the top line and the first power-play unit at the start of the week when it was announced that Patrik Laine (ankle) is unavailable for at least three weeks. Bemstrom has picked up two points in his first three appearances of the season.
Emil Bemstrom Hopes To Carry Hot AHL Form To The NHL
Columbus Blue Jackets winger Emil Bemstrom is set to make his season debut Thursday against Philadelphia after impressing in the AHL. The 23-year-old is tied for the league lead in scoring in the American Hockey League, having tallied 14 points in 10 games. He has notched seven goals and seven assists with 35 shots. Bemstrom has also had his moments in the NHL, but his career hasn't properly taken off yet, with the Swedish winger amassing 36 points in 117 career appearances. He is projected to play on the second line and the second power-play unit. The team is desperate for some firepower, with Jakub Voracek (upper body), Sean Kuraly (upper body) and Kent Johnson (undisclosed) all out injured, and Bemstrom is expected to provide it, along with Brendan Gaunce, who is also getting his season debut following some good showing in the AHL.
Columbus Blue Jackets right wing Emil Bemstrom has been placed on Injured Reserve after he suffered a left oblique strain in Tuesday's practice. He's expected to be out for four-to-six weeks. The 22-year-old skated in 20 games for the Jackets last season and managed to bag his first career hat trick. However, Bemstrom ended up with only five points and it was a disappointing campaign for him overall. It's also going to be difficult for him to become fantasy relevant in 2021-22 after Columbus added a lot of offensive talent during the offseason.
Emil Bemstrom Makes NHL History With First Hat Trick
Columbus Blue Jackets right wing Emil Bemstrom exploded for his first career hat trick in the third period against Nashville on Monday. He helped the team to tie to score, but the Jackets were still forced to take a 4-3 loss in overtime. The 21-year-old became the first player in NHL history to go 15 or more games without a goal to start a season and then score his first three goals all in one period. He had just two assists as well with his first 16 outings of the year. Bemstrom also recorded a game-high eight shots in the defeat. Columbus faces Nashville again on Wednesday, before entering a two-game set with Detroit to finish the year.
