The Free Press’s Helene St. James discusses Jonatan Berggren’s status as playing on an $850,000, “prove it” contract this season, with the 24-year-old Berggren looking to emerge as a player who can be relied upon both offensively and defensively:
“I feel like this is the year for me to prove that I can belong in this league,” he said during training camp in Traverse City. “My focus is just coming in with a great attitude and show them what a player I am and how big a summer I had.”
Berggren, the No. 33 pick in 2018, already has demonstrated he can score in the NHL: 15 goals in 67 games in 2022-23, which stoked expectations he had earned a job with the Wings going into last season. But that wasn’t the case: Berggren appeared in just 12 NHL games (two goals, four assists) in 2023-24, otherwise demoted to the minors, where he posted 56 points in 53 games while being asked to improve the defensive side of his game.
“I felt like when I got the chance, I did pretty good,” Berggren said. “I was an offensive threat and had a couple points. I know I can be an offensive player here, so just take care of the defense and the rest will come later. That’s my main focus.
“I just have such a hunger to show them that I can be a good player in this league. I need to put in the work and show them I can be a player they can trust.”
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“It’s going to be a work in progress,” [Red Wings coach Derek] Lalonde said. “Those guys that have offensive IQ, those guys that want to produce offense their entire career, it’s an evolution of understanding what’s important – when to take chances in their game. He’s had some success in this league, we know he can create offense, but just like everyone else, we are going to ask a little more of that team game.”
Continued; the affable Berggren is easy to cheer for, but it’s apparent that the Wings’ coaching staff (and possibly management) are concerned about his ability to play a strong two-way game, probably alongside Joe Veleno and Tyler Motte on a checking line.
Given Veleno’s relative success last year, and Motte’s status as a checking force, “Johnny Burgers” finds himself in a spot where he should receive help in establishing himself as a relied-upon player.
