Top Penguins Forward Sidelined Long-term as Major Surgery Required

The 2024/25 season has been a tough one for injuries with the Pittsburgh Penguins, and while their campaign is officially over, the injuries haven't quite stopped yet.

On Monday, General Manager Kyle Dubas confirmed that center Emil Bemstrom will now miss the remainder of the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins season and the Calder Cup Playoffs as a result of needing season ending surgery.

That's a tough break for Bemstrom, who has thrived at the AHL level this season, posting an impressive 23 goals and 48 points in 48 games played with the team thus far in 2024/25.

Unfortunately for the 25-year old, he couldn't translate that production to the NHL level, as he was able to put up just one assist in 14 games played, with many believing he may have had one of his final shots at the NHL level.

In a total of 244 games between 2019 and now in the NHL with Columbus and Pittsburgh, Bemstrom has put up just 34 goals and 75 points, so while the talent is clearly there, he's struggled to catch on at the highest level.

Ultimately, this is a major blow to the WBS Penguins Calder Cup Playoff hopes, and while Kyle Dubas didn't reveal what the injury was and how long the former fourth round pick would be out of action for, it's a tough break for a young talent that was finally finding his footing and producing in a key role at the AHL level.