The Free Press’s Helene St. James posted her morning article today, discussing the Red Wings’ probable lines vs. New Jersey on Thursday, Jonatan Berggren’s assignment in Grand Rapids, and coach Derek Lalonde’s assessment of Nate Danielson’s preseason play.
We’ll focus on coach Lalonde’s prescription for Berggren this morning:
Berggren, who had 28 points in 67 games last season, was sent to the minors Sunday, with a message: “Just keep doing things to make you an every-day type NHL guy,” Lalonde said. “I think for him, unfortunately, right, wrong or indifferent, he’s still raw in his development, and it makes no sense for him to be sitting here as 13th, not playing. It’s valuable for him to play meaningful minutes in Grand Rapids, rather than sit here with us.
“He just needs to play. He’s barely been in this league. His first year was last year. He’s still growing. He needs a more complete game, play away from the puck, him managing his game and puck play, eliminating costly turnovers.”
It didn’t help Berggren, 23, that Fischer came in and looked like such a good addition to the fourth line; they play different types of game, but it’s where Berggren would have fit otherwise.
Continued; Berggren isn’t “young” by NHL standards any more at 23, but player development just isn’t always linear.
He is going to be an NHL player–hopefully with the Red Wings–and at least for the beginning of this season, I’m comfortable with the Wings’ decision regarding Berggren playing at the AHL level (Simon Edvinsson, too) instead of sitting at the NHL level.
