The Pittsburgh Penguins are making a move with an eye toward development - and perhaps a little bit of future upside. Swedish forward Melvin Fernstrom is heading stateside, recalled from his loan with Örebro HK in the SHL and assigned to the AHL’s Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.
It’s a notable shift for the 19-year-old, who’s already had a busy season overseas. Fernstrom was recently reassigned from Örebro to AIK in HockeyAllsvenskan, Sweden’s second-tier league.
That move would’ve been something of a homecoming - Fernstrom came up through AIK’s youth system before joining Örebro’s U18 squad at just 15. But before he could suit up for AIK’s top team, the Penguins decided it was time to bring him into their system directly.
So what are the Penguins getting?
Fernstrom just wrapped up his second season in the SHL, Sweden’s top pro league. He finished with three goals and four points in 36 games - not eye-popping numbers, but context matters.
Playing mostly in a third-line role for an Örebro team that’s struggled defensively (they’ve allowed the fourth-most goals in the SHL), Fernstrom was often tasked with shutting things down in his own zone and trying to spark transition play the other way. That’s not an easy ask for any forward, let alone a young, pass-first center still adjusting to the pace and physicality of top-tier pro hockey.
Last year, as a rookie, he managed 17 points in 48 games - a solid showing for a teenager in one of Europe’s toughest leagues. But this season, his impact was more subtle. He didn’t light up the scoresheet, but he showed flashes of what made him an intriguing draft prospect: smart positioning, quick decision-making, and a knack for threading passes through traffic.
Those traits were what drew attention ahead of the 2024 NHL Draft, where the Vancouver Canucks selected Fernstrom in the third round. But his rights didn’t stay in British Columbia for long.
He was part of the trade package that sent Marcus Pettersson and Drew O’Connor to Vancouver, with Pittsburgh acquiring Fernstrom’s rights in return. The Penguins signed him to an entry-level deal this past summer, and now they’re bringing him over to get a closer look in North America.
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton is a good landing spot. The team currently sits second in the AHL’s Atlantic Division and is tied for the fifth-most goals in the league - thanks in large part to breakout performances from prospects like Tristan Broz and Avery Hayes.
Fernstrom won’t be asked to carry the load offensively, but he’ll bring a responsible, two-way presence down the middle. Expect him to be eased into the lineup as he adjusts to the smaller ice and faster pace of the AHL.
For now, Fernstrom’s NHL future remains a longer-term project. He’s not knocking on the door just yet, but this move gives Pittsburgh a better environment to shape his development.
If he can translate his playmaking instincts and defensive awareness to the North American game, there’s a path forward. And for the Penguins, who are always looking to restock the pipeline with smart, versatile forwards, that’s a worthwhile bet.