JANUARY 22, 2021

COLUMBUS, OHIO – The Columbus Blue Jackets have recalled forward Nathan Gerbe from the taxi squad and assigned forward Emil Bemstrom to the taxi squad, club General Manager Jarmo Kekalainen announced today.

Gerbe, 33, has posted 62 goals and 86 assists for 148 points with 194 penalty minutes in 426 career NHL games with the Blue Jackets, Carolina Hurricanes and Buffalo Sabres since making his NHL debut in 2008-09.  He has tallied 4-6-10 and 22 penalty minutes in 32 career appearances with the Blue Jackets, including 4-6-10 and 22 penalty minutes in 30 games with the club in 2019-20. 

The Oxford, Michigan native has added 63-106-169 and 187 penalty minutes in 196 career American Hockey League games.  He collected 8-17-25 and 22 penalty minutes in 30 games with the Cleveland Monsters, the Blue Jackets’ AHL affiliate, in 2019-20.  The 5-4, 176-pound forward was originally drafted by the Sabres in the fifth round, 142^nd overall, at the 2005 NHL Draft.

Bemstrom, 21, has skated in all five games for the Blue Jackets in 2020-21 and has recorded 10-10-20 and eight penalty minutes in 61 career NHL games since making his NHL debut in 2019-20.  The Nykoping, Sweden native led club rookies in goals, points, power play goals, game-winning goals and shots last year with 10-10-20, five PPG, four GWG and 97 shots in 56 games.  Columbus’ fourth round pick, 117^th overall, at the 2017 NHL Draft, Bemstrom registered 23-12-35 in 52 career appearances with Leksands IF and Djurgardens IF from 2016-19.

The Blue Jackets return to action on Saturday when they host the Tampa Bay Lightning.  Game time from Nationwide Arena is 2 p.m. ET.  The game will be broadcast live on FOX Sports Ohio and the FOX Sports Go app with coverage beginning at 1:30 p.m. with the “Blue Jackets Live” pre-game show.  The contest will also be aired live nationally on NHL Network.  It will also be broadcast on the Eldorado Gaming Scioto Downs Blue Jackets Radio Network, including CD92.9 FM.

COURTESY BLUE JACKETS COMMUNICATIONS