In July, I posed the question if Jonatan Berggren would end up in the Detroit Red Wings top line. While it would shock some fans if Berggren skated next to Dylan Larkin and Lucas Raymond to start the season, the truth is: it shouldn't.
Why? Because Berggren produced when he skated alongside them as the 2024-25 season hit twilight mode, with four points and two goals between April 14th and April 16th, showcasing his potential if teamed up with the right linemates. Or, so it seems.
But Berggren's gotta show consistency if and when he's skating alongside Raymond and Larkin in camp, and the Wings should give him every reason to be the guy on the first line. He'll also face competition from players like Elmer Soderblom, who's looked more than capable of producing at times, even if durability's a factor.
And, really, Berggren's got the potential to be a dynamic scorer, so players like Larkin and Raymond would help him maximize that scoring potential. No, 29 goals in 154 games is nothing special, but he also has a 14.5 shooting percentage in that span. It shows us that, if given the right tools and personnel needed to be successful, Berggren could surprise a lot of fans.
Jonatan Berggren would be the Detroit Red Wings breakout player, or he could be trade bait
The best-case scenario for 2025-26 is that Berggren steps into a role that transforms him into an immediate contributor and he finally lives up to his potential as a former 33rd-overall pick. But if he's again relegated to a 12-13-minute per night role? Honestly, it wouldn't hurt to just cut the loss and trade him.
Young teams like the Anaheim Ducks could take a flier, and Steve Yzerman's known to make trades wtih Pat Verbeek. Of course, this is all contingent on Berggren's production and presence stagnating or even going south.
If he's playing 12-13 minutes per night and making a strong impact, you can argue that the Wings can and maybe even should keep him around. If not, give him a change of scenery, take a late-round pick to get him off of your hands, and give someone else a chance to step in and prove their worth in the lineup.
Overall, Berggren's one of the ultimate boom-or-bust scenarios in Hockeytown. Ideally, he picks up where he left off late last season, skates well enough with Larkin and Raymond, wins a spot on the top line, and bam, the Wings finally got what they've been expecting outta Berggren.
If not, then there's a chance he's taking up space in the lineup that can and possibly should go to an up-and-comer. So make room, because there's a good chance the entire team would benefit.