Detroit Red Wings prospect Jonatan Berggren tearing it up in the AHL

When the Detroit Red Wings lost two more forwards to COVID-19 health and safety protocols, the rumor was that they were going to call up prospect forward Jonatan Berggren. He’s been performing quite well during his time with Grand Rapids, but he remained in the American Hockey League (AHL).

Detroit Red Wings head coach Jeff Blashill commented on the team’s call-ups, not including Berggren, detailing that he did not want to ruin the Swedish prospects’ confidence. Berggren has taken to the North American quite game well since coming overseas.

After being a second-round selection from the 2018 NHL Entry Draft, he has climbed up the ranks of the team’s prospects. He struggled early on after being drafted but found success over in the Swedish Hockey League (SHL) and earned a chance to come over to play for the Red Wings AHL squad.

While it was a tough route to get there, literally since Berggren did get lost on the way to Grand Rapids, Berggren has been able to settle in nicely with the Griffins and may just earn a shot to be called up later in the season.

Detroit Red Wings prospect Jonatan Berggren is tearing it up with the Griffins.

After a stellar season in the SHL last year, the playmaking forward made the jump to join the Griffins and has been able to get the scoring going early on in 2021-22. Berggren has logged 22 games where he has seven goals and nine assists for 16 total points on the season.

When it comes to Berggren and his skillset, it seems that the playmaker archetype is going to be his mold. If you look at the skill level Lucas Raymond has been showing, knock that down a couple of notches, and that’s likely where Berggren is going to fall.

A good comparison for Berggren might be along the lines of Ondrej Palat or Jaden Schwartz if he is able to reach his full potential. He’ll be a solid player to mix into the top-six who finds the open man in the offensive zone to create scoring chances and is able to find the back of the net as well.

After his struggles early on in the SHL, I have to admit I was skeptical of his abilities being unable to hang in the SHL, but he straightened that out and was able to really find success. Co-Site Expert Bob Heyrman had it right on this guy when he tried to tell me he was one of the better Red Wings prospects in the pipeline.

Given the strong start to the 2021-22 season, the Red Wings may just end up bringing Berggren up later in the year if he stays hot.