Notes on Detroit's D corps, Jonatan Berggren, Albert Johansson, and everything else you need to know before tonight's game between the Red Wings & Penguins 24 year-old forward Jonatan Berggren has long been a source of fascination, or at least discourse, for Detroit Red Wings fans. He's been billed at different points as an impact top six scorer and a trade chip, alternately too talented to play in the bottom six or too turnover prone. Now, new coach Todd McLellan has a different message for Berggren, who has four goals and three assists in 34 games thus far this season. Dec 1, 2024; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Red Wings right wing Jonatan Berggren (48) receives congratulations from teammates after scoring in the first period against the Vancouver Canucks at Little Caesars Arena [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjExNzkxMDgxNDQyOTExNzc5/usatsi_24886854.jpg] Dec 1, 2024; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Red Wings right wing Jonatan Berggren (48) receives congratulations from teammates after scoring in the first period against the Vancouver Canucks at Little Caesars Arena When asked after this morning's skate for an assessment of Berggren, McLellan said: > "He seems to be a sturdy solid good puck protector. I think he's got some > offensive instincts in mind. Sometimes those players, they want to stay and > play in the NHL, so they're afraid to make mistakes, and they play a little > more conservative. I'd like to see him just turn himself loose a little bit: > Make mistakes, we'll help you, it's okay. But bring your complete toolset to > every game. They're also trained throughout junior or wherever they're playing > and even in the American League, they're trained for 18, 19, 20 minutes, and > if it doesn't happen for them early, they still have 15 minutes left in the > game to make their mark. Right now, Dylan Larkin and [Lucas] Raymond are > getting more minutes. So you have to work your way in with 10 or 12 and feel > good about it, and then pretty soon you start biting off 13 and then you get > to 14, and all of a sudden, you're Razor or Larks where you've moved up the > lineup. But everybody goes through that...[Young players] all want more, which > is great and I appreciate that, but with what they get, they have to make it > count. So with Berggy, play, let's go. You have—at least from what I've > heard—you have a lot of real good tools. He hasn't hurt us defensively, which > is great, but I think there's some [more] offense there." - It is hard not to juxtapose that message—of trusting his instincts to make an offensive impact in the minutes he does earn, without fear of avoiding mistakes—with the way erstwhile coach Derek Lalonde used to talk about Berggren. Lalonde would often speak of Berggren's "fingerprints" winding up on a goal against, citing those same offensive instincts as a source of defensive lapses. Berggren is presently averaging 12:34 of ice time and skating in a third line role beside Vladimir Tarasenko and JT Compher. He's been held pointless in Detroit's first two games under McLellan's leadership, but perhaps the new coach's words of encouragement will manifest on the scoresheet soon. ALSO FROM THN DETROIT Red Wings Could Have Big Trade Coming [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/detroit-red-wings/latest-news/red-wings-could-have-big-trade-coming] McLellan Earns First Win as Red Wings Roll Through Capitals [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/detroit-red-wings/game-day/mclellan-earns-first-win-as-red-wings-roll-through-capitals] Red Wings Prospect Is A Wrecking Ball [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/detroit-red-wings/latest-news/red-wings-prospect-is-a-wrecking-ball] McLellan Makes Voice Heard at First Red Wings Practice [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/detroit-red-wings/latest-news/mclellan-makes-voice-heard-at-first-red-wings-practice] For McLellan, Loss to Maple Leafs Serves as Diagnostic [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/detroit-red-wings/latest-news/for-mclellan-loss-to-maple-leafs-serves-as-diagnostic] Familiar Result but New Road Map as Red Wings Fall in McLellan's Debut [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/detroit-red-wings/game-day/familiar-result-but-new-road-map-as-red-wings-fall-in-mclellans-debut] Stockton: Lalonde Ouster Shifts Focus to Yzerman as McLellan Era Dawns [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/detroit-red-wings/game-day/stockton-lalonde-ouster-shifts-focus-to-yzerman-as-mclellan-era-dawns]