What happened: The St. Louis Blues have agreed to a one-year, $2 million contract extension with forward Jonatan Berggren. The 25-year-old was claimed off waivers from the Detroit Red Wings midway through last season and stayed with St. Louis rather than testing the market. The deal locks in a depth scorer who found new life after leaving Detroit.
Why it matters: Detroit drafted Berggren 33rd overall in 2018 and once viewed him as a top-six offensive prospect, but he settled into a limited role of roughly ten to thirteen minutes a night. St. Louis handed him steadier ice time and a bigger opportunity, betting his production was stifled by circumstance rather than capped by talent. The extension keeps that experiment going at a manageable price heading into the 2026-27 season.
By the numbers: Berggren posted 16 points in 36 games with St. Louis while averaging 14:35 of ice time, about two minutes more per night than he typically saw in Detroit. That pace projects to near 37 points across a full 82-game slate. He debuted with close to 30 points for the Red Wings in 2022-23 before his role narrowed.
What to watch: Watch whether a full training camp and consistent top-nine minutes let Berggren push toward the 30-plus-point form he flashed as a rookie in the season ahead.