A few players held the Detroit Red Wings back last season, and Jonatan Berggren looked like one of them. Heck, Berggren has had enough chances to develop into something more than what he’s shown the Wings, and, at best, he’s stagnated.
And although he’s a restricted free agent this offseason, the Red Wings shouldn’t be in a rush to re-sign him. Heck, if they can try and trade for or sign another restricted free agent to an offer sheet instead, then they need to go that direction.
Below, you’ll find two of those players listed. One had a resurgent season while the other took a step back. Still, both players boast talent galore, and few Red Wings fans would be opposed to general manager Steve Yzerman signing either one of them.
The third name on this list is a familiar one, and is an unrestricted free agent. While he didn’t do much this past season, this former Red Wing made the most of his time in Detroit. That said, bringing him back could work in the team’s favor.
Kaapo Kakko, Seattle Kraken
Kaapo Kakko looked like a good fit with the Seattle Kraken, so they’ll likely try and re-sign the restricted free agent. But Kakko only enjoyed one-half of a good season in the NHL, and he saw top-six minutes with Seattle. So the burning question is whether they’ll be willing to pay him like a top-six forward after a strong 49-game stretch.
The Kraken also can’t mess up rebuilding their core, so they may look to trade Kakko’s signing rights if they don’t feel he can repeat. Enter Steve Yzerman, who should pull off an easy trade for Kakko. Plus, Detroit’s top six is pretty much ready to roll next season, meaning Kakko is likely a 13-14-minute player should he end up in Hockeytown.
Replacing Jonatan Berggren with Kakko would allow the Wings to sign the winger at a lower rate, and put him on a bridge deal. Should Kakko prove he can finally be a consistent player in this league, then he’ll get a true extension.
Jack Quinn, Buffalo Sabres
Yes, another restricted free agent, but one who could find himself on his way out, given his surprising regression. Jack Quinn technically put up his best season with the Sabres, squeaking out 39 points and 15 goals in 74 games, but he was supposed to take a massive step forward, which didn’t happen.
Still, he showed promise in 2022-23, and even took a step forward in 2203-24 despite playing in just 27 games. But even after a disappointing year, he still outplayed Berggren, and could find his niche on the third or even the fourth line. No, it wasn’t what everyone expected when Quinn entered the NHL full-time, but he’d make for an immediate depth-scoring threat.
Daniel Sprong, New Jersey Devils
Daniel Sprong may’ve had a rough season in 2024-25, putting up just seven points and two goals. But harken to 2023-24 during his one-year stint with the Red Wings, and he found the net 18 times while tacking on another 25 assists. Oh, and he did all of this by averaging fourth-line minutes.
Yeah, bringing back Sprong would be a risk, considering he all but disappeared this past season and found himself wearing three different jerseys. Still, we’re talking about replacing Jonatan Berggren for one, and for another, Sprong has chemistry with quite a few of the players still roaming Hockeytown. If all else fails, I’m taking a flier.
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