Red Wings’ Berggren Must ‘Steal’ Back His Playing Time

Jonathan Berggren’s 27 goals in his first 140 NHL games for the Detroit Red Wings translates into a scoring rate of 16 goals per season.

Berggren shows 10 goals this season, averaging 12:48 minutes per game, over 61 games. His average time on ice is close to his career averarage.

That’s probably enough to keep most players in NHL lineup, but thus far it hasn’t guaranteed Berggren a chance to play every day. He has been a healthy scratch for the past two games, and because Detroit played well against Ottawa, and beat Buffalo, Berggren could be sitting again tonight when Detroit plays the Carolina Hurricanes in Raleigh.

“No message to Bergy,” Detroit coach Todd McLellan said. “He’s very capable of filling in. I think he fits the top three lines better than he does the fourth line. “

Without question, McLellan seems to have more faith in Berggren than former coach Derek Lalonde showed. But that doesn’t mean McLellan isn’t looking for more from the Swedish player.  Berggren has offensive flair, but is not a physical player or a superior defensive zealot.  He shows 11 blocked shots and 15 hits in 61 games. That’s one hit every four games. By contrast, 31-year-old “rookie” Dominik Shine has 14 hits in his first seven NHL games.

Berggren Needs to ‘Steal’ Ice Time

Berggren needs to “steal” some playing time from teammates, many of whom he is probably quite fond of.

“He’s a talented young man,” McLellan said. “Just sometimes your number isn’t called and you gotta figure out a way to get back in there and steal ice time from teammates. We all preach team, but sometimes you gotta steal from your teammate. And if you’re doing a real good job, you’re stealing from a teammate and you’re getting more.”

McLellan said that scenario playing out on the Red Wings cost Berggren playing time.

“When Elmer (Soderblom) showed up and when (Marco Kasper) started playing really well, they started to steal a little bit of his ice time,” McLellan said. “But no, Johnny’s, Berggy’s very capable of playing and he will play. “