Jonatan Berggren has emerged as a productive forward for the St. Louis Blues since being claimed off waivers in mid-December. In 25 games, he has recorded five goals and 12 points, yet his lineup appearances remain inconsistent. With 14 games left in the season, calls are growing for the team to feature him more regularly.
The St. Louis Blues claimed Swedish forward Jonatan Berggren off waivers in mid-December to address injuries. Since then, the 25-year-old has played 25 games, scoring five goals and tallying 12 points overall. Post-Olympics break, in the team's 11 games, Berggren appeared in five, contributing four assists and holding a two-game point streak. The Blues posted a 3-1-1 record in those outings with him in the lineup, highlighting his offensive contributions to a struggling attack. He excels in creating plays in the offensive zone and aiding scoring efforts. Lineup decisions have been challenging due to an abundance of forwards, including veterans, prospects like Jack Finley and Otto Stenberg, and newcomers. Even after trading Brayden Schenn and Nick Bjugstad, options remained plentiful. Head coach Jim Montgomery faces tough choices. One suggestion is to prioritize Berggren over Jonathan Drouin, acquired from the New York Islanders in the Schenn trade primarily for cap relief—Drouin's $4 million hit versus Schenn's $6.5 million. Drouin serves as a short-term option with one contract year left and may depart in the offseason. Berggren, on a $1.8 million cap hit with two restricted free agency years remaining, offers cost-effective potential. His current pace projects to 16 goals over 82 games, tying for the team lead. As the Blues prepare for 2026-27 with 14 games remaining, evaluating Berggren in a consistent role could inform future plans for middle-six scoring depth.
