MLive’s Ansar Khan posted a practice notebook which focuses on Jonatan Berggren’s resurgent play under coach Todd McLellan:
Todd McLellan told Jonatan Berggren he wants to see the talent and skills that translated well to the NHL as a rookie with the Detroit Red Wings.
“We had a meeting; he told me like let it loose, kind of like he wanted me to play offense and like he knows that I have skills in offensive game,” Berggren said. “It was a nice confidence boost for me to have the coach trust to maybe (make) a mistake, but it’s not the whole world. It was kind of nice to have that meeting with him.
“Every new coach has their own look how the game will play, and (I’m) feeling like Todd and I have kind of the same mindset about the game, how we want to play. So, right now it’s feeling really, really good.”
Berggren, 24, tallied 15 goals and 28 points in 67 games in a bottom-six capacity in 2022-23. Former coach Derek Lalonde had concerns about Berggren’s defensive play, however, and that relegated him to Grand Rapids for most of last season. It appeared to have him playing tentatively at the start of this season.
McLellan’s message was don’t be afraid to make a mistake.
“I feel like maybe I was thinking a little bit too much about don’t make mistake in the beginning,” Berggren said. “So, it was nice to hear from him that he sees and knows what I can do, and he has trust in me. Of course, it’s not like toe-drags on the blue line, but like be offensive player and have the confidence to do it, too.”
Continued (paywall)
