Drive to the Net: What are Penguins getting in Bemstrom?

A number of Bemstrom's power play goals -- like two of the three above -- come as one-timers from the left circle. That's nothing new, as the Penguins saw when they played the Blue Jackets in March last season at PPG Paints Arena:

... and then again in Columbus in April:

Matthew Phillips is currently a right-handed shot on the second power play unit, so it'd be easy to find a place for Bemstrom on that unit. Easy swap.

Bemstrom doesn't kill penalties, so if he does get into the lineup, don't expect him to get any shorthanded time. For that reason it would also be difficult for him to be a one-for-one replacement for a right wing who does kill penalties, like Jeff Carter.

Mike Sullivan didn't have much to say Thursday night on what Bemstrom could potentially bring to the lineup. The trade happened during the Penguins' 4-1 win over the Canadiens, and so Sullivan didn't have a chance to really dive into video or discussions with the staff yet.

"What I do know is that he's a talented player," Sullivan said. "He scored 10-plus goals in the league a couple of years ago, when he was in Columbus. Beyond that, I don't have a real good grasp of his overall game. I know Kyle the hockey ops guys do, and so they obviously think he's a guy that can come in and help us."

For a quick scouting report I instead went to the player in the locker room who perhaps knows Benstrom best, Pettersson, after their time together on the Swedish national team. Pettersson was initially a little confused why he was being asked about a random bottom-six Blue Jackets forward after a game against the Canadiens, but he lit up and smiled when I told him I was asking because Bemstrom was a Penguin now.

"He's got a good shot, a really good shot," Pettersson said. "He's a good young player, and again a good shot. He's got great skill, he's a good player."

The data backs that up. The average top shot speed for a forward in the NHL this season is 84.74 miles per hour, and Bemstrom clears that and then some at 96.30 miles per hour. 

Bemstrom has speed, too. The league average top speed for a forward is 22.07 miles per hour, and he's been clocked at 23.04 miles per hour. He's reached over 22 miles per hour five times this season, whereas the average forward has only hit that marker twice. He's cleared 20 miles per hour 65 times this season, more than the average forward's mark of 54 times.

That foot speed was evident in this clip from Bemstrom's brief AHL stint this season, blowing past a Marlies defenseman to score:

Of the 17 forwards to play more than one game for the Blue Jackets this season, Bemstrom ranks ninth in rate of giveaways (0.87/60), 17th in takeaways (0.44/60), 12th in hits (2.61/60) and sixth in blocked shots (3.05/60).

Bemstrom could fit in on the right side of the Penguins' second- or third- lines. Right now, the Penguins have underwhelming waiver claim Phillips skating on Evgeni Malkin's right wing, and Valtteri Puustinen skating on the right side of Lars Eller on the third line.

Puustinen has earned his spot, but Phillips looks to be the easy decision to come out of the lineup. Bemstrom could take his position on the second line, or slide in on the third-line and bump Puustinen up to the second line. Puustinen has skated in the top-six before, but he seems to benefit from having a more predicable, responsible center in Eller. Moving him up to the second line wouldn't necessarily be a "promotion" if he's a better fit with Eller than Malkin. It might make more sense to give Bemstrom a shot on the second line first.

The Penguins have a scheduled off day on Friday before an 11 a.m. Saturday practice at the Lemieux Complex, so it'll be a couple days before we see where the Penguins envision Bemstrom fitting in.

Even if Bemstrom isn't a fit here, it was an incredibly low-risk trade. Nylander had multiple opportunities to carve out a spot in the NHL -- including time playing with Malkin himself -- and was never able to click. He was a free agent this summer and unlikely to play in the NHL for Pittsburgh again. If Bemstrom bombs and all the Penguins lose is a sixth-round pick two years from now, that's not exactly losing much.

It's a gamble that makes sense.