Report: Red Wings Considering Jonatan Berggren Trade

Per a report from David Pagnotta, the Red Wings are considering trading 23-year-old forward Jonatan Berggren. If he is dealt, it would represent a significant inflection point in the Yzer-plan.

According to a report published Sunday evening via Twitter by David Pagnotta, the Detroit Red Wings are considering a trade involving 23-year-old forward Jonatan Berggren.

Berggren—whom the Red Wings selected in the second round of the 2018 NHL Draft (33rd overall)—burst onto the scene a year ago by posting 28 points in 67 NHL games in Detroit.

Berggren's progress, however, has not been linear, and the young Swede has spent the majority of this season in the AHL, playing for the Grand Rapids Griffins, where he has 15 points in 16 games.

Of course, for now these are just rumors, but if Detroit does deal Berggren, it would represent a major inflection point in the Yzer-plan with respect to shipping out future assets for immediate help at the NHL level.

Yes, Donovan Sebrango was a part of the trade that brought Alex DeBrincat to the Red Wings over the summer, but Sebrango (a 2020 third round pick) is not a prospect of Berggren's ilk, nor had he played an NHL game.

All season, we've written about the sense that Detroit has taken away NHL minutes from its prospects (like Berggren or defenseman Simon Edvinsson) in favor of proven commodities in depth roles (e.g. Christian Fischer or Justin Holl).

However, not just delaying those prospects NHL opportunities but trading them away such that their NHL careers continue elsewhere would still represent a significant change in the team's process.

Personally, I believe trading Berggren would be regrettable for the Red Wings, unless it is part of a package that brings in a player of DeBrincat's caliber (i.e. a young player who is at least capable of making an all-star team).  To deal him for a player whose only value would be in chasing the 2024 postseason would seem short-sighted.

I believe Berggren has a unique offensive skillset (one he's already proven at the NHL level) that could be a major benefit to the organization for years to come.  For a better sense of what that skillset looks like, take a look at this piece from over the summer:

Still, particularly with the acquisition of Patrick Kane as another playmaker/creator in Detroit's NHL line-up, Berggren's path to NHL minutes in 2023-24 has gotten quite a bit more difficult, and it's possible the player has requested a trade.

With David Perron now facing a significant suspension and Dylan Larkin set to miss some time due to injury, however, there is an immediate void in the Red Wings' lineup and top six that Berggren may well be tasked to help fill.

From there, the question becomes will Berggren have a chance to cement his long-term future in Detroit or will he be auditioning for a new team elsewhere? 

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