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What Would It Take For Red Wings To Move Berggren?

Swedish forward just keeps on scoring

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2 months ago

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Jonatan Berggren, Red Wings
In 76 NHL games for the Red Wings, Jonatan Berggren has 17 goals and 16 assists.

It would be entirely incorrect to suggest that there isn’t a scenario in which the Detroit Red Wings would be moving forward Jonatan Berggren prior to today’s NHL trade deadline.

For instance, were Edmonton Oilers GM Ken Holland to call up Steve Yzerman and offer Connor McDavid straight up for Berggren, Stevie Y is gonna make that deal.

Don’t hold your breath, because that outcome isn’t happening.

On the other hand, are there realistic proposals that could involve Berggren finding himself in a new home by 3 p.m. ET today?

That’s a scenario which is truly difficult to envision, because the fact of the matter is if you are the Red Wings brass, do you really want to be trading Berggren?

Everywhere he’s been since coming to North America in 2021, he’s put the puck in the net. He counted 21 goals for the AHL Grand Rapids Griffins in 2021-22 and his 64 points were a club rookie record. Splitting last season between GR and Detroit, Berggren was good for 19 goals. This season, a campaign again split between the Red Wings and Griffins, Berggren’s stats sheet is showing 21 goals and 52 points through 51 games.

“He’s got some takeaway speed at this level.” Grand Rapids coach Dan Watson said of Berggren. “He sees the ice extremely well, he can make plays under pressure. He can make plays in tight areas. And he loves to have the puck on his stick.”

In 76 NHL games, Berggren is showing 17-16-33 totals. And that’s without getting significant time on top-six forward units or with the power play. What could Berggren produce in a more pronounced NHL role? Not finding out that answer before dealing Berggren could come back to haunt the Red Wings.

Berggren Loyal Soldier For Red Wings

Then there’s Berggren’s attitude, which has been nothing short of spectacular. After scoring 15 goals in 67 games for the Red Wings last season, he didn’t bat an eye when given a return assignment to Grand Rapids out of training camp.

“(Being sent down) can set guys back mentally (and) can get guys in a bad mindset,” Watson said. “But with (Berggren), he got sent down and played four games in four nights without complaint. He just went and did it. He just went to work.”

While pro sports is first and foremost a business, the fact that Berggren has done everything asked of him by the organization matters. There are other young prospects watching the example he’s setting. If his reward was a ticket out of town, it might make some of them have second thoughts about their own loyalty to the Red Wings cause.

It’s not out of the realm of possibility that the Red Wings might trade Berggren today. But for that to happen, it’s going to take a pretty sweet deal.

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