Home Leagues Emil Bemstrom might be turning corner in NHL career

Emil Bemstrom might be turning corner in NHL career

by admin

Oct 24, 2023; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Columbus Blue Jackets right wing Emil Bemstrom (52) scores a goal during the first period of the NHL game against the Anaheim Ducks at Nationwide Arena.

It’s only been five years, but it feels much longer since Emil Bemstrom was a Blue Jackets rookie with a reputation from the Swedish Hockey League as a goal-scoring phenom.

A lot has happened in that time.

The world and NHL were paused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Blue Jackets haven’t qualified for the postseason since 2020, when Bemstrom’s rookie season was halted and re-started four months later by the pandemic. The Jackets’ roster is almost completely different thanks to massive turnover that included former franchise pillars dealt away.

More: 5 things we learned from the Columbus Blue Jackets’ OT loss to the Montreal Canadiens

Three head coaches have departed, including John Tortorella by mutual agreement, Brad Larsen via termination and Mike Babcock with a forced resignation stemming from player complaints about privacy violations related to their phones.

What has remained the same is Bemstrom’s failure to live up to the hype. The booming one-timer and knack for scoring in Sweden have only flashed sporadically in four NHL seasons, but Bemstrom hasn’t stopped trying to become the player the Blue Jackets hoped they were getting back in 2019.

Oct 24, 2023; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Columbus Blue Jackets center Cole Sillinger (4) celebrates a goal by Columbus Blue Jackets right wing Emil Bemstrom (52) during the first period of the NHL game against the Anaheim Ducks at Nationwide Arena.

Oct 24, 2023; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Columbus Blue Jackets center Cole Sillinger (4) celebrates a goal by Columbus Blue Jackets right wing Emil Bemstrom (52) during the first period of the NHL game against the Anaheim Ducks at Nationwide Arena.

He arrived for training camp this season motivated to keep his NHL roster spot and has earned a more prominent role in the Blue Jackets’ regular lineup. Bemstrom has three goals, all on power plays, in six games and two were scored in the Jackets’ 4-3 overtime loss Thursday in Montreal.

“I feel pretty confident out there,” he said afterward. “I think I’ve been doing it this whole season so far, so I don’t know what the recipe is, but it just feels good right now and I’ve just got to keep doing what I’m doing. … It feels pretty good.”

Bemstrom’s importance to the Blue Jackets’ power play has taken a big leap in importance the past two games without injured star Patrik Laine’s one-timer available. He’s a right-handed shot, like Laine, and the slap shot he’s capable of launching can be just as dangerous from the same spot in the left faceoff circle.

Oct 20, 2023; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Columbus Blue Jackets right wing Emil Bemstrom (52) gets hit into Calgary Flames goaltender Jacob Markstrom (25) by defenseman Rasmus Andersson (4) during the third period of the NHL hockey game at Nationwide Arena. The Blue Jackets on 3-1.

Oct 20, 2023; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Columbus Blue Jackets right wing Emil Bemstrom (52) gets hit into Calgary Flames goaltender Jacob Markstrom (25) by defenseman Rasmus Andersson (4) during the third period of the NHL hockey game at Nationwide Arena. The Blue Jackets on 3-1.

Bemstrom’s first goal against the Canadiens was scored with a scorching one-timer from above the left circle, sending the puck past a screen by 6-foot-5, 240-pound rookie Dmitri Voronkov. His second goal was scored from much closer after getting a great pass outside the left post from Jack Roslovic.

“I’m trying to shoot everything on that left circle and it’s been going in lately,” Bemstrom said. “I’ve just got to keep doing it.”

If he can, that could significantly improve the Blue Jackets’ odds of rebounding with a significant climb from last season’s last place finish in the Metropolitan Division.

More: Columbus Blue Jackets notes: Can Jack Roslovic become a consistent difference maker?

Laine, Johnny Gaudreau, Zach Werenski and other stars haven’t even hit their first hot streak yet, for various reasons, so adding high-end contributions from players like Bemstrom, Roslovic and other unheralded Blue Jackets could be the NHL’s version of found gold.

It’s just contingent on them playing this way consistently, which has been Bemstrom’s biggest NHL challenge since arriving.

bhedger@dispatch.com

@hedge_dispatch

Get more Columbus Blue Jackets talk on the Cannon Fodder Podcast

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Emil Bemstrom steps up for Columbus Blue Jackets at key time in career

Source link

Related Articles

Leave a Comment