Just 15 games into his NHL career, the outlook for Emil Bemstrom was fairly bleak.
Two points in that span of games. -2 +/- rating. 20 shots without a goal.
The question was fair to ask - had Bemstrom been called up to the big boys too early?
It's not much of a question anymore, though. The former fourth-round pick from Sweden has now registered a point (six, in fact) in five-straight games for the Columbus Blue Jackets, a time where the team has gone 3-1-1.
Bemstrom is now tied for sixth on the club in points (eight), seventh and goals (three) and seventh in assists (five). He's heating up, folks, which is ideal for a sputtering Blue Jackets' offense who just recorded its first win by a difference of two or more goals on the young season.
Among players who are being regularly featured in the lineup, Bemstrom is averaging the least amount of ice time per game - under 11 minutes - but is still showing flashes of big contribution potential.
Even with his reduced minutes, he's in the top-five on the Blue Jackets in offensive point shares (and top seven in hits!).
Bemstrom was seen as a bubble player coming into training camp, and was expected to have a short leash early on in the season. Props are due to management for keeping the SHL star up in the NHL even when he was struggling early on. It's clearly paying dividends.
