Penguins Recall Emil Bemström

The Penguins’ bottom-six forward group continues to see turnover. After reassigning Jesse Puljujärvi to AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on Wednesday, Pittsburgh has recalled winger Emil Bemström to take his place on the active roster ahead of Friday’s game against the Rangers, per a team announcement.

Bemström returns to the NHL for the first time since April 2024. The 2017 fourth-rounder posted 3-2–5 in 24 games with an even rating, a 48.9 CF%, and 34 SOG after being acquired from the Blue Jackets before last year’s trade deadline and failed to make the team out of camp last October. He cleared waivers and began the most extended AHL assignment of his career, leading the Baby Pens in scoring with 19-22–41 in 37 games.

The 25-year-old Bemström was an inconsistent but sometimes effective depth scorer in Columbus. He appeared in 56 games for the Jackets in 2019-20 after coming over from Sweden and recorded 20 points, on pace for 30 over an entire season, averaging just over 12 minutes per game. His points-per-game rates varied wildly over the next few years, though. He never topped 10 goals in a single NHL season again and settled in as a fringe bottom-six offensive winger, lighting up the minors when reassigned but failing to produce in NHL minutes consistently.

Bemström now steps in to help a Pittsburgh forward group that is missing its franchise pillars, Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, due to injuries. Potential trade chip Rickard Rakell has shifted over to center to help out, but that’s caused a domino effect and shifted depth players like fresh acquisition Danton Heinen into a top-six role. He offers more offensive upside than fellow AHL call-up Bokondji Imama can dole out in a fourth-line role and will likely draw in to aid an offense that’s been limited to 11 goals in its last six games.

The Penguins have a bevy of other forward options producing well in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton who are waiting for a call-up. Among them are prospects Ville Koivunen and Vasiliy Ponomarev, who are both within shouting distance of a point per game. But the more established and experienced Bemström will get the call for now, as the Pens are all but set to miss the playoffs for three straight seasons for the first time since 2002-2006.