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Red Wings winger hits brutal crossroads that could define his NHL future

Jonatan Berggren enters the 2025–26 season facing what may be the most pivotal juncture of his professional career.

After a promising 2022–23 campaign in which he tallied 15 goals over 67 games, the Swedish winger experienced a modest regression last season, posting 12 goals and 24 assists despite appearing in more contests.

With organizational patience thinning and roster competition intensifying, Berggren is acutely aware that this season could serve as a referendum on his long-term viability in the NHL. The margin for error is narrowing—and how he responds may well define his trajectory within the league.

While Berggren readily acknowledges that the 2025–26 season represents a make-or-break moment in his NHL career, he also maintains that his overall game has evolved—thanks in part to the leadership of head coach Todd McLellan, who assumed control of the Red Wings bench following the midseason departure of Derek Lalonde last December.