The Detroit Red Wings will have some intriguing roster decisions to make again this season and into next offseason.
Detroit is in the midst of a nine-year playoff drought, and the Red Wings added some more depth this offseason. However, Detroit also has some young players who need to take a step forward, or they could be used as trade chips.
NHL analyst Rob Couch of NHLTradeRumors believes the Red Wings will part ways with Jonatan Berggren after the season ends.
“Jonatan Berggren has time and time again not been given a proper opportunity with the Red Wings,” Couch wrote. “They have seemingly wasted his developmental years in the NHL. He’s projected to play on the fourth line this season, which will hurt him even more.
“He had a strong showing in the NHL as a rookie in 2022-23 and then hasn’t been given the opportunity to perform again like he had and the Red Wings are still out of a playoff spot. He is now 25 years old and on a one-year deal where he is a RFA after the season. I think Detroit will end up trading him to a team that will make more use of him,” Couch added.
Berggren signed a one-year, $1.825 million deal with the Red Wings and is an RFA at the end of the year. Berggren was selected 33rd overall in 2018. But, the 25-year-old has struggled to fit in with the Red Wings, which is why Couch expects him to be traded.
Berggren recorded 12 goals and 12 assists for 24 points in 75 games last season.
Berggren Signed a ‘Prove-it-Deal’ With the Red Wings
The Red Wings signed a one-year deal with Berggren to see if he can continue to take the next step.
Berggren got more playing time once Todd McLellan took over as the coach, which is why he’s excited to be back with the Red Wings.
“Last year was a good year for me,” Berggren recently told DetroitRedWings.com. “I feel like I got more opportunity after Todd [McLellan] became head coach, and I think I played better. This one-year deal is a prove-it-deal for me. I want to show what I can do.”
Berggren spent the entire year in the NHL, which the forward believes benefited him and helped his confidence.
“It felt like I was part of the team,” Berggren said. “It’s hard when you’re going up and down between the AHL and NHL, so I got that confidence being there for a full year, and I’m going to build off that.”
Berggren plans to continue to develop and try and earn a top-six role with the Red Wings.
Red Wings Hopeful to End Playoff Drought
Detroit is in the midst of a nine-year playoff drought, and general manager Steve Yzerman is hopeful that it ends this season.
The Red Wings made some nice additions this offseason, and Yzerman believes the team is better.
“Today, I think our team is a little bit more competitive,” Yzerman said. “Maybe constructed a little better than it was at this stage last year, so I’m hopeful that we take a step…Overall, I think we’re a little bit better. How many points does that translate to in the season? We’re going to find out.”
The Red Wings have odds of +260 to make the playoffs.
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