Columbus Blue Jackets trade Emil Bemstrom to Pittsburgh Penguins for Alex Nylander, pick

colin gay, columbus dispatch

Fri, Feb 23, 2024, 8:59 PM·1 min read

The Emil Bemstrom era in Columbus has ended.

The Blue Jackets' 2017 fourth-round draft pick who played in 204 games for the team across five seasons was traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins, the team announced Thursday.

In return, the Blue Jackets acquired left wing Alex Nylander and a conditional sixth-round pick in the 2026 NHL draft.

Nylander is expected to join the Blue Jackets prior to the team's next game against the Buffalo Sabres Friday at Nationwide Arena.

Bemstrom recorded 10 goals and 10 assists in his rookie season for the Blue Jackets in 2019-20 but scored just 21 goals in his next four seasons combined, including five goals and six assists across 32 games in 2023-24.

The Blue Jackets have traded 2017 fourth-round draft pick Emil Bemstrom, right, who played in 204 games for Columbus across five seasons.

Nylander is a former Canadian Hockey League and Ontario Hockey League Rookie of the Year, leading to his selection as the No. 8 overall pick in the 2016 NHL draft.

He has 14 goals and 20 assists in 98 career NHL games for the Penguins, Chicago Blackhawks and Sabres. He played a career-high 65 games for the Blackhawks in 2019-20, scoring 10 goals to go along with 16 assists.

Nylander has played in 14 games for the Penguins in the past two seasons.

The NHL's trade deadline Friday, March 8.