NHL players with outbound contracts usually say no to the World Cup.
Emil Bimström, 22, is the exception this year who confirms the rule.
– It’s kind of a win-win, he says.
three crowns He listed ten Swedish players with expired NHL contracts that are unrelated to this year’s World Cup in Finland.
Yes, said 22-year-old Emil Pemström, who played the last three seasons for the Columbus Blue Jackets.
“I don’t think I have the best season in the world behind me, so this is a good opportunity for me to show another level,” he says after losing to the Czech Republic at the Beijer Hockey Games.
“It was a dream”
It is not uncommon for players with expired contracts to attend the World Cup.
– No, but I felt like I wanted to do it. I had never played a World Cup before, I got the question and took the chance.
A chance to show off?
– It’s kind of a win. Both. Playing in the World Cup has been a dream since I was young. If you get the chance, I don’t think you should refuse.
Missed the Fall: “Be mentally tough”
The striker, who hit a breakthrough in the SHL with Djurgården in the 2018/19 season, was injured a day before the NHL premiere and missed the entire fall.
– Of course it was a bit mentally tough, says Bemström and says it took some time to rise to the level again.
I had a good month or two at the end of the season and then it ended very quickly. I played about 40 matches. He assures that there is still cream.
Bimstrom will be a “restricted free agent” this summer, which means the current club still owns the rights to it.
It is important that I take the next step that I know is in me. I haven’t really shown it yet, but it’s up to me to prove it.