The Columbus Blue Jackets have just announced a trade involving Emil Bemstrom. This is Interim General Manager John Davidson’s first move as a GM. Bemstrom has been traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins for Alex Nylander and a Conditional 2026 6th Round Draft Pick(If Emil Bemstrom scores six goals the rest of this season with Pittsburgh, the sixth-round pick in 2026 becomes a third-round pick). The trade deadline is just two weeks away, many wonder what other moves Davidson might be preparing.
At 24 years old, Bemstrom has spent his entire NHL career on the Blue Jackets. He was originally drafted by the Jackets in 2017 in the 4th round, going 117th overall, and hails from Nykping, Sweden. In his professional career with the Blue Jackets, he has played 204 games, scored 31 goals, and tallied 38 assists for a total of 69 points. At 194lbs and 5’10 Bemstrom has not been known to be the most physical player on the ice but often is the fastest. His current cap hit is $900,000, and he will be a restricted free agent at the end of this season.
Alex Nylander is the son of former NHL player Michael Nylander as well as the younger brother to the Toronto Maple Leafs William Nylander. At 25 years old, Alex has played 98 NHL games but has recently been playing on the Penguin’s AHL affiliate, the Wilkes-Barr/Scranton Penguins. He has scored 14 NHL goals and tallied 20 assists for a total of 34 points. His current cap hit is $775,000, and he had been signed to a 1-year contract with the Penguins.
While not netting the Blue Jackets a top-tier NHL player, this trade may help in the short run. Currently, the Jacket’s AHL affiliate, the Cleveland Monsters, is poised to play in the AHL playoffs. This could help bolster the team with some experienced help. On the other hand, Emil Bemstrom may help the Penguins or their AHL affiliate by adding someone a little younger who has plenty of NHL experience and is a very fast-paced player.
