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CBJ - Bemstorm Traded for Nylander | Cali Results |
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The Columbus Blue Jackets sell off begins with the trade of Emil Bemstrom to a divisional rival. Bemstrom has been traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins in the first trade of the John Davidson era for winger Alex Nylander and a conditional 2026 6th round draft pick.
Nylander was a first round pick (8th overall) of the Sabres in 2016, and riding the depth charts after other trades to Chicago and Pittsburgh. The Calgary native had 34 points in 98 career games. The younger brother of William Nylander is a pending RFA at the end of the year.
Bemstorm has had an up and down season for the Jackets, starting the season on waivers and with Cleveland. His last goal/point was January 13th against Seattle. The Swede was a 4th rounder in 2017, and had 69 points in 204 career games with the Jackets. Bemstorm is also an RFA at the end of the season.
This moves saves $150K for the Jackets. This might also be a moving of the deck chairs for the Penguins to get more secondary scoring. Things have not been there depth wise.
Conditions are as follows:
If Emil Bemstrom scores 6 goals between now and end of the year, the 6th rounder becomes a 3rd round pick in 2026.
Else, remains a 6th round pick.
This now puts Laine, Dubois, Nylander, and Bean as four former or current Jackets from the 2016 first round draft class.
The Columbus Jackets conclude the California road trip with a winning record. They bested the SoCal NorCal teams two of the three contests. This trip has also further separated Columbus from better lottery odds as the Ducks and Sharks continue to be at the bottom three.
CBJ PG 53 @ San Jose Sharks
The Columbus Blue Jackets defeat the San Jose Sharks in the first game of the post-Kekalainen era by the final score of 4-3 in regulation.
Despite the former Blue Jackets’ winger Anthony Duclair getting two goals, the top stars and Russian line stepped up for the road team in the first meeting of the season.
Period I
The Duke, Anthony Duclair, opened the scoring in the tank with his 10th goal as a Shark. The Cup finalist’s first of the night happened less than five minutes into the game.
Columbus answered back late in the first period with 2 goals in a 68 second span.
Zach Werenski got the opening goal for the Union Blue with his second of the year. His tally was assisted by Johnny Gaudreau and pending free agent Jack Roslovic.
Sophomore Kirill Marchenko potted the go-ahead-goal for the road team. This got Kirilly to 16 goals on the season. The return of the Russian line got Yegor Chinakov the primary assist. Erik Gudbranson had the secondary assist.
Period II
Dmitry Voronkov extended the road team lead midway through the second period with his career goal #14. Chinny and Gudsy got the apples once again on the Russian line.
Duclair’s second of the evening and 11th of the season came less than 30 seconds after the Voronkov goal. His even strength goal was assisted by Fabian Zetterlund and Callan Addison, two other young Sharks’ newcomers.
Zetterlund tied the game at 3 all on the powerplay for his 15th of his full campaign in San Jose. Former Wild players Addison and Mikael Granlund had the assists.
Period III
The captain himself, Boone Jenner, continues his hot streak with his 17th goal of the year with 13 seconds remaining in regulation. Gaudreau and Ivan Provorov had the helpers on the game winner.
Goaltenders
Former Wild youngster Kappo Kahkonen allowed 4 goals on 41 shots faced for a 0.902 save percentage.
Elvis Merzlikins allowed 3 goals on 31 shots for a 0.903 save percentage. This was his first win since before the All Star break (Jan 30).
CBJ THREE STARS OF THE GAME
1. Boone Jenner — GWG (17)
2. Johnny Gaudreau — 2 assists (30)
3. Erik Gudbranson — 2 assists (15)
CBJ PG54 @ Los Angeles Kings
The first loss of the post-JK era came from PLD and the LA Kings in a 5-1 whooping.
Period I
The goal of the year might have happened in the opening period of the game by the breakout star of the Kings.
Quinton Byfield may have set himself up in contention of the goal of the year with a dangling play pass Zach Werenski, falling on the ice, then pushing himself up and beating a downed Merzlikins for his unassisted 18th goal of the season in the final 100 seconds.
Period II
Former top three draft pick Pierre-Luc Dubois rebounded with his new club getting his 12th as a King. His powerplay goal came about 90 seconds into the frame. Sophomore Brandt Clarke and goaltender Cam Talbot had the helpers.
Adam Boqvist finally got his first goal of the season. This was his first goal in the regular season since March 21, 2023. His goal was assisted by captain Boone Jenner and rental Jack Roslovic. This was the lone Columbus goal.
PLD got his other goal of the evening for his 13th this season. Byfield, my Kings’ player to watch, had the primary assist here. Rookie Alex Turcotte got his second assist of his young career.
Period III
Kevin Fiala scored a powerplay goal for his 14th of the year from Drew Doughty and All Star Adrian Kempe.
Doughty got the final goal of the game with 23 seconds left for his 12th of the year. Trevor Moore and Phillip Danault had the assists.
Players to Watch
Quinton Byfield had a goal of the year candidate and a primary assist in his continuing breakout season.
Johnny Gaudreau was pointless in this one. He had 4 shots and a bunch of goose eggs.
Goaltenders
Cam Talbot had an assist and the win for Los Angeles. He allowed just one goal on 33 shots against for a 0.970 save perncetage.
Elvis Merzlikins allowed 5 goals on 35 shots for a 0.857 save percentage.
CBJ THREE STARS OF THE GAME
1. Adam Boqvist — goal (1)
2. Boone Jenner — assist (6)
3. Jack Roslovic — assist (10)
CBJ PG55 @ Anaheim Ducks
The Tate McRae section was silenced in Orange County despite the comeback. The Blue Jackets held on and bested the Mighty Ducks 7-4.
Columbus began the scoring with 4 straight goals in the 1st period and change. The Ducks scored 4 quick 2nd period goals. Columbus recovered and scored 3 in the 3rd.
Period I
Zach Werenski got the goals started with his 3rd of the year. Johnny Gaudreau and Jack Roslovic had the assists.
Gaudreau got the next goal for his 8th of the season from Jake Bean.
Werenski got his 2nd of the period and evening for his 4th of the season from Boone Jenner and Roslovic.
Period II
Sean Kuraly got the early second period goal for his 8th of the season from Alexandre Texier.
Troy Terry for the Ducks’ scoring started for his 17th of the year from Urho Vaakainen and Frank Vatrano.
Mason McTavish scored two quick goals for the home team.McTavish’s 16th was assisted by Terry and rookie Pavel Mintyukov. His 17th was assisted by the same two players.
Alex Killorn got his seventh as a Duck from rookie Leo Carlsson and Mintyukov.
Period III
Yegor Chinakov got the eventual game winning goal for his 15th of the year from Gaudreau and Jenner after a line juggling.
Kuraly got his second of the evening and 9th on the season from Cole Sillinger and Texier.
Jenner got a shorthanded empty net goal for his 18th this shortened season from Damon Severson.
Players to Watch
Frank Vatrano had a secondary assist on the first Ducks’ goal to continue his All Star year.
Adam Boqvist was the only defender with a minus rating and had the least amount of ice time as a result.
Goalies
John Gibson allowed 6 goals on 26 shots faced for a 0.769 save percentage.
After taking a stick in the second, Columbus played both goalies. Tarasov was rushed back to the locker room late in the second for repairs. Elvis Merzlikins allowed 2 goals on 2 shots. Daniil Tarasov had 27 saves on 29 shots faced for a 0.931 save percentage.
CBJ THREE STARS OF THE GAME
1. Zach Werenski — 2 goals (4)
2. Sean Kuraly — 2 goals (9)
3. Yegor Chinakov — GWG (15)
What’s Next?
A home game on the NHL Network against Buffalo. Get your popcorn, goals will be coming!
Columbus Blue Jackets Blogger • 
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