Detroit Red Wings will be parting ways with a 25-year-old forward after failed opportunities
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NHL Insider Rob Couch of NHL TradeRumors believes that the Detroit Red Wings and Steve Yzerman will choose to part ways with forward Jonatan Berggren at the end of the year.
At the end of the 2025-26 NHL season, the Detroit Red Wings will have to make important decisions regarding the future.
For Steve Yzerman, that means examining and re-evaluating the lineup for redundancies, and that could include forward Jonatan Berggren.
Berggren could ultimately become a trade chip for the Red Wings. While they may not be starved for assets, they could always use more picks and prospects. They could leverage his pending team-controlled contract in something else.
Jonatan Berggren: No Longer A Red Wing in 2026?
According to NHL TradeRumors' Rob Couch believes that the team and Berggren are destined to part ways:
«Jonatan Berggren has time and time again not been given a proper opportunity with the Red Wings,» Couch wrote. «They have seemingly wasted his developmental years in the NHL. He's projected to play on the fourth line this season, which will hurt him even more.
«He had a strong showing in the NHL as a rookie in 2022-23 and then hasn't been given the opportunity to perform again like he had and the Red Wings are still out of a playoff spot. He is now 25 years old and on a one-year deal where he is a RFA after the season. I think Detroit will end up trading him to a team that will make more use of him,» Couch added.
«He had a strong showing in the NHL as a rookie in 2022-23 and then hasn't been given the opportunity to perform again like he had and the Red Wings are still out of a playoff spot. He is now 25 years old and on a one-year deal where he is a RFA after the season. I think Detroit will end up trading him to a team that will make more use of him,» Couch added.
Berggren signed a one-year, $1.8 M contract with the Red Wings, and his contract will expire with restricted free agent status in the NHL.
Team-controlled contracts can always be moved, especially if another team believes a player can become a reclamation project. That could be Berggren's next steps in the league.
Originally a 33rd overall pick in the 2018 NHL Draft, he's failed to find a regular spot in the lineup and has produced below expectations in the NHL.
Last season, Berggren scored 24 points (12-12) in 75 games with the Red Wings.
He'll have to "prove it" under Todd McLellan or find a new home.
Previously on Red Wings Insider
| POLL | ||
SEPTEMBRE 4 | 319 ANSWERS Detroit Red Wings will be parting ways with a 25-year-old forward after failed opportunities Will forward Jonatan Berggren be a Detroit Red Wing in 2026? | ||
| Yes | 134 | 42 % |
| No | 185 | 58 % |
| List of polls | ||
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