Detroit Red Wings: A look at Prospect Jonatan Berggren

The Detroit Red Wings selected Jonatan Berggren with the 33rd overall pick in the 2018 entry level draft.  The early second round selection leaves Detroit with a player who has a lot of potential & offensive upside.

The Detroit Red Wings decided to pass on a defenseman for their third straight pick in 2018.  The Wings selected Right Winger Jonatan Berggren who hails from Uppsala, Sweden.  Berggren is trying to become an NHL regular down the road,  joins the likes of Robert Hagg of the Philidelphia Flyers whom also was born in Uppsala.

The Wings, expect Berggren to become an excellent top-nine forward in their future.  Bergren is considered to be a bit undersized at 5’10, has real slick hands that accompany his crafty stick-handling ability.

Detroit added Berggren to an excellent crop of young rookie forwards this past draft.  Most of us talking about Filip Zadina along with Joe Veleno, both draft bargains.  Berggren, the Wings are hoping becomes a bargain in his own right.

Berggren is a pass first, shoot later type of player, much more of a playmaker rather than a sniper.  Jon excelled in the World Juniors tournament this past winter for Team Sweden scoring 5 goals and adding 5 assists in 7 games.

The young Swedish prospect played last season in Sweden in their “SuperElit Junior” league.  Berggren lead the league in scoring with 57 points.  His full stat line looked like this in 38 games, 18G, 39A 57P. Berggren totaled 1.50 points per game, and was a plus 24.

Multiple scouting reports suggest Berggren is easily coached, his willingness to play hard every shift has stood out.  Players especially young,  exceptional skaters who have the desire to compete hard each and every shift are extremely valuable.

Sportsnet.ca suggests Jonatan Berggren draws comparisons to the Nashville Predators Viktor Arvidsson with his stature, skating ability, and puck skills.  Jonatan was a big riser in the pre-draft rankings almost netting himself as a first-round pick.

From the pre-draft Sportsnet story;

Cam Robinson of Dobber Prospects: “An absolute wrecking ball of a player who has been posting tremendous numbers in the J20 circuit. Logs miles of ice as he forechecks with impunity, distributes the puck and knows how to finish as well. Terrific international performances at the Hlinka, Five Nations and U18’s offer scouts a glimpse of his skill on some big stages and he’s even looked capable in a 10 game stint in the SHL. Some of the best one-on-one skills in the class. A player his coaches love and his opponents hate.”

The lack of defensive ability is a something to be concerned about.  Berggren at times is a victim of his own wrongful doing; he tries to do too much on his own.  He’s undersized and quickly knocked off the puck, at times struggles to win puck battles.  The “room for improvement” areas remind me of a Tomas Tatar type player.  We feel that’s who was just described.  Hopefully, he can improve these areas and excel offensively.

A player has an opportunity to develop in an entirely positive fashion from 18 years to 22 years of age.  Berggren’s ‘will’ to skate, and his drive for maximum effort shift in, and shift out, leads us to believe he could indeed become that top 9 type forward in a couple of seasons from now.  If Berggren can find a way to win more puck battles against bigger opponents, using his great speed to his advantage often, he could become a difference maker.

We can complain all we want about Ken Holland, and trust me he’s put Detroit in salary cap prison with all his “lifelong” contracts.  That being said, this past draft is shaping up to be a real strong draft with a lot of NHL potential talent, Berggren adds another top prospect into the Detroit Red Wings prospect pool.