The Montreal Canadiens will be one of the most talked-about teams in trade rumors in the months leading up to the deadline. This is due to the fact that they are expected to be among the NHL’s top sellers, with players such as Sean Monahan, David Savard, Jake Allen, and Cayden Primeau among their trade candidates. While the Canadiens are expected to be sellers, that does not mean they should avoid attempting to bring in talent.
Jonatan Berggren of the Detroit Red Wings is one intriguing player on whom the Canadiens should keep a close eye. The 23-year-old winger has recently gained traction in the rumor mill, and he would make sense as a trade target for Montreal. Let us now look at why this is the case.
Berggren is being considered as a potential trade candidate.
Berggren has been mentioned as a possible Red Wings trade candidate over the last week. “A couple people told me to keep an eye on Berggren, like, there might be something going on around them, like a move or something like that,” NHL insider Elliotte Friedman said on a recent episode of The Jeff Marek Podcast about the Berggren trade rumors. So, just something to keep an eye on.”
This is not the first time Berggren has been mentioned as a potential trade candidate, but when a trusted insider like Friedman brings something like this up, it should be taken seriously.
Berggren, too, could benefit from a change of scenery. Despite being called up to the Red Wings’ roster recently, he has spent the majority of this season with the Grand Rapids Griffins. Because of this, as well as the Red Wings’ strong forward depth, there is no guarantee he will remain on the team once they are fully healthy again. As a result, rumors about Berggren are likely to persist.
Why Should the Canadiens Target Berggren?
Berggren is exactly the type of player that a rebuilding team like the Canadiens should be looking for. The 23-year-old winger is regarded as having high potential and has already had some success in the NHL. As a rookie with the Red Wings last season, he made an immediate impact, scoring 15 goals and adding 28 points in 67 games. He’s been productive with Detroit this season, with two goals and four points in seven games.
If the Red Wings truly want Berggren, the Canadiens should make a big push to get him. He possesses the tools to become a top-six forward in the NHL, which the Canadiens could make use of. This is especially true given the struggles of veterans like Josh Anderson and Brendan Gallagher in larger roles with Montreal this season.
Finally, Berggren is a young forward on whom the Canadiens should be willing to take a chance. He could thrive playing more minutes for Montreal and become an important part of their offense as a result.
Berggren’s Possible Fit With the Canadiens
Given the Canadiens’ current lineup, it is reasonable to believe that Berggren would compete for top-six minutes if acquired by the club. This season, Juraj Slafkovsky has been unable to fill the first-line right wing spot, while Anderson has been underwhelming. As a result, bringing in a promising young player like Berggren would provide much-needed competition on the right wing.
Berggren’s offensive IQ and skill level would make him an obvious candidate for power-play time with the Canadiens. The Canadiens could use a boost in this area, and Berggren has the potential to provide it.
Nonetheless, it is clear that the Canadiens have found a great trade target in Berggren. Several other teams are likely interested in the Canadiens’ 2018 second-round pick, so the Canadiens must act quickly if they want to land him. Finally, this would be a low-risk, high-reward addition. We’ll have to wait and see if Montreal can make a deal for him.
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