How Emil Bemstrom Ruined the Columbus Blue Jackets
Consider this article a warning. Or, maybe consider it a spoof. Whatever you consider it, the facts supplied within are very odd, and all lead us to one question: Is it possible that a fourth round pick out of Sweden ruined an entire franchise?
Let’s start at the beginning. The Blue Jackets entered the 2017 NHL Draft without a first round pick. They dealt this pick to the Vegas Golden Knights along with forward David Clarkson, with an agreement in place that the Knights would leave a certain power forward (Josh Anderson) alone in their expansion draft.
The Jackets also did not have a second round pick in this draft – it was sent to the Vancouver Canucks as a result of the team hiring John Tortorella as their head coach. A rule that I’m always quick to point out, was rapidly changed after this situation, because the league decided it wasn’t achieving what they’d hoped it would achieve. Still, we didn’t have our own second round pick, it was used by Vancouver to select Jonah Gadjovich.
The Blue Jackets wound up trading prospect Keegan Kolesar to acquire a second round pick, which they used to select forward Alexandre Texier. They took goaltender Daniil Tarasov in the third round, and then used their fourth round pick on a talented sniper from Sweden, who has altered the course of this franchise at least a couple of times: Emil Bemstrom.
After being selected by the Blue Jackets, Bemstrom spent two more seasons in Sweden – the second of them in the top league, the SHL. As a 19 year old, he became the youngest player in league history to lead the league in goals. His 23 tallies tied Peter Forsberg and Patric Hornqvist for the third most by a teenager in league history.
As a result, his stocks were skyrocketing. As Jacket fans, we felt like our scouting staff had uncovered a diamond in the rough. Things were going so well for Emil, that GM Jarmo Kekalainen labelled him as “off limits” at the 2019 trade deadline – when the team was going all-in and acquiring talent for a Cup run.
Instead, the team traded away other prospects and draft capital, acquiring Matt Duchene, Ryan Dzingel, and adding depth on defense and in goal. Bemstrom, it seemed, was tabbed as one of the team’s top prospects. And this all seemed fair, if his play in Sweden was any indication. He seemed like another potential Oliver Bjorkstrand type player – or better. Unfortunately, things haven’t gone our way with this player.
Emil Bemstrom came over to the Jackets the next fall, for the 2019-20 season. But the confidence wasn’t there, and this is a player who seems to only turn up when we want him to the least.
The team rested its laurels on Bemstrom as a potential future top-six player. This allowed them to trade away other draft capital and prospects for a run in 2019 – which did lead to the only first round series win in franchise history. But, had Bemstrom not elbowed his way into top prospect discussion, does the team feel as comfortable?
Do they deal multiple high draft picks for that run? If they hold onto that draft capital, is it possible that our prospect pool isn’t so meager when the exodus of most of the talent on the roster happened over the next two seasons? Does the rebuild start sooner? It’s hard to say.
In his first year with the Jackets, Emil actually did pretty well, scoring 10 goals and 20 points in 56 games. We still thought he could be at least a solid middle-six winger for the future, maybe in that mold created by Oliver Bjorkstrand. His two-way numbers even looked really good, we just hoped he would continue to grow.
But to this point, that hasn’t happened. He fell off rapidly, scoring just 5 and 11 points in his next two NHL seasons. Part of this is due to injury, as he’s missed a lot of time here and there with various ailments. But, part of this is also due to him having no confidence in shooting the puck. Often, he’s fed with a one-timer opportunity, which is supposed to be his greatest strength – but he double clutches and then looks to pass.
This season, he started the year in the AHL with the hope that he could get his swagger back. We were thrilled to see him dominate, scoring 14 goals and 31 points in just 21 games. He earned his way back to the NHL, and was thrust right onto the top line with superstar Johnny Gaudreau … where he promptly lost all confidence again.
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He spent a lot of the season toiling in the bottom six of the lineup, after bouncing back to the AHL for another stint at the end of November. Then, late in the penultimate game of the season, he struck this franchise with a cursed goal. By scoring the tying goal against the Pittsburgh Penguins, he helped get this team to overtime, earning them a point and ruining any chances of having the best odds of the first overall pick at the 2023 NHL Draft.
We're all tied up, thanks to the goal from Emil Bemström!#CBJ pic.twitter.com/dlH2INjn8O
— Bally Sports Columbus (@BallySportsCBUS) April 14, 2023
If you’ve kept up so far: Bemstrom was thought of as a diamond in the rough, giving the team the confidence to sell off a lot of valuable draft capital and assets for an all-in push in 2019. Then, he unleashed his one-timer at the worst possible moment, blowing up their lottery odds in one of the worst seasons in franchise history.
Were the Blue Jackets given some kind of curse in 2017, the moment they picked Bemstrom? Or, is this just a stroke of bad luck and too much faith in one mid-round prospect? We may never know.
Next. What Needs to Happen for the Blue Jackets to be a Playoff Team. dark