NHL.com’s Mike G. Morreale posted an update on the prospects of note from Sweden’s SHL, and much of his column focuses on Red Wings prospect and Skelleftea AIK forward Jonatan Berggren.
Berggren has rebounded from back and shoulder injuries to post dominant numbers for Skelleftea this season:
“The biggest change and what I’m working on every day is trying to take the puck to the net and be more aggressive around the goalie,” the 20-year-old left wing told NHL.com. “I had a really long offseason, so I had time to really get stronger and faster. Now everything is feeling little easier on the ice than last season.”
Berggren (5-foot-10, 181 pounds), who was selected by the Detroit Red Wings in the second round (No. 33) of the 2018 NHL Draft, is third in the SHL with a career-high 16 points (two goals, 14 assists) in 10 games. He possesses a game predicated on puck possession and speed, so confidence means everything.
“When you’re playing against men, and playing a really high level, [confidence] means even more,” said Shawn Horcoff, Red Wings director of player development. “He’s off to a good start, you can just see it in his play. He always had good hockey sense and poise, but even more so now.”
Berggren has had his share of adversity since being drafted by the Red Wings, sustaining a stress fracture in his back that limited him to 16 SHL games in 2018-19 and a shoulder injury that required surgery and six months of rehabilitation last season.
