The Detroit Red Wings will need to make some tough roster decisions ahead of the start of the 2025-26 NHL season.
The Red Wings are looking to snap their nine-year playoff drought. In the offseason, they added some much-needed depth to the bottom of the lineup. One player that Detroit brought back was Jonatan Berggren, as the Red Wings signed him to a one-year, $1.825 million deal. But he isn’t guaranteed a roster spot.
NHL insiders Corey Pronman and Harman Dayal of The Athletic named Berggren a cut candidate as they expect him to end up on waivers before the season starts.
“As Detroit’s recent first-round picks at forward continue to progress, Berggren could get squeezed out,” the article read. “He’s an excellent skater with a high skill level. But he’s not dynamic enough offensively as a small winger who isn’t hard to play against to lock down a spot long-term. At some point, it feels like his time in Detroit will come to an end when someone like Nate Danielson or Michael Brandsegg-Nygaard makes the team. That time could come as soon as this fall.”
It would be a surprise if the Red Wings waive Berggren, as they could trade him for a mid-round pick.
Berggren Says 1-Year Deal is a Prove-it Deal
Berggren signed another one-year extension with the Red Wings, as he isn’t guaranteed a top-six role.
However, the former second-round pick played well down the stretch, and he says he’s going to build off that this season.
“Last year was a good year for me,” Berggren said to DetroitRedWings.com. “I feel like I got more opportunity after Todd [McLellan] became head coach, and I think I played better. This one-year deal is a prove-it-deal for me. I want to show what I can do.”
Meanwhile, Berggren wanted to have a good training camp to prove he can be an impactful offensive player for the Red Wings.
“Especially last summer, I feel like that was really good and then at Training Camp, everything felt good,” Berggren said. “I took another step last year. But I feel like I’m starting at a higher level this year maybe than where I was two years ago. I want to do the same thing this summer because I feel like that’s going to give me a good result this year.”
Berggren recorded 12 goals and 12 assists for 24 points in 75 games last season. His career-high is 15 goals.
Berggren on Interesting Line in Camp
Ahead of the start of the season, Berggren has been practicing on a line with J.T. Compher and Michael Brandsegg-Nygard.
Bradsegg-Nygard was selected 15th overall in 2024, and Red Wings coach Todd McLellan wanted to see how he would fare with Compher and Berggren.
“We wanted to see how (Brandsegg-Nygard) would perform in that situation,” McLellan said. “I think we have to give the younger players every opportunity to experience being on a line with some veterans and see how that goes… But please don’t read into the lines.”
The Red Wings open their season on Oct. 9 against the Montreal Canadiens.
Red Wings Insider Names Former 15-Goal Scorer a Cut Candidate