Red Wings’ new contracts for Berggren and Johansson come with serious pressure

General manager Steve Yzerman and the Detroit Red Wings front office have been busy this offseason. There is still work to be done in the free agent market if they want to make the playoffs in 2025-26, but the Wings have already brought in impactful pieces through trades and extensions.

While Patrick Kane is the more notable player returning to Detroit this season, Yzerman quietly extended two young players in Jonatan Berggren and Albert Johansson. The Wings must believe in the flashes of brilliance each has shown in spite of their shortcomings.

Johansson was given a two-year contract extension worth $1.125 million average annual value (AAV). The former second-round pick made his National Hockey League (NHL) debut last season, and his counting stats were nothing stupendous. Across 61 games, he had three goals, six assists, and was a minus-11. 

However, Johansson’s rookie campaign was much better than the numbers suggest, given the circumstances. He started the year in and out of the lineup before cementing a spot on Detroit’s blue line due to the team’s inconsistencies on defense. 

Asking a rookie to be on the second pair against the opposition's top lines is a tall task for anyone, and Johnasson had a bit of a learning curve as a result. By April, he developed into a stronger defenseman, and the experience should hopefully pay dividends this season.

Clearly, Yzerman was pleased with Johansson's performance in his first season, but the GM likely only extended the 24-year-old for two years to see if he truly will be part of the Red Wings' future defensive core.

If Johansson can produce more and become more consistent, there will be a longer-term extension in his future

Despite trade rumors, Berggren will get another shot in the Winged Wheel, signing for one year at $1.825 million AAV. 

It is hard to believe 2024-25 was just Berggren’s second full season in Detroit, considering the amount of discourse around him. He had a respectable rookie season in 2022-23 (15 goals and 13 assists in 67 games) before spending most of the following year with the Grand Rapids Griffins due to the Wings’ forward depth. 

Seemingly motivated by his demotion, Berggren had a terrific season in Grand Rapids, with 24 goals and 32 assists. 

With Detroit veterans like David Perron leaving the team and prospects like Nate Danielson not yet ready, 2024-25 appeared to be the one season where Berggren would have the opportunity to cement his place in Detroit’s future. 

Berggren actually regressed last season, however, posting just 12 goals and 12 assists in 75 games. Considering Marco Kasper’s ascension and Danielson, among others, being more ready to make their NHL debuts, time looked to have run out for Berggren with the Wings.

Instead, Yzerman decided to give Berggren a second chance to have a breakout season in 2025-26

As an undersized forward, Berggren’s calling card is scoring, and he does not have a ton of value if he is not putting the puck in the net. The Swede also will need to develop his playmaking abilities, as he thrived last year when playing on Detroit’s top lines, where shots were created for him, yet struggled when he needed to facilitate on his own on the bottom lines.

The potential is clearly there for Berggren and, with some improvement by him and added depth to the Detroit forward group, he can have the season in 2025-26 that everyone expected him to have in 2024-25.

Both extensions are wins for Yzerman. Each player has clear potential, and giving them shorter, low-money deals should motivate them to perform. Hopefully, this activity by the Red Wings is just the beginning in this crucial offseason.