He basically matched his career high in pts by game 60 and then slowed waaaay down. That is not a "decline into mediocrity". He almost scored as much as Fabbri, Copp and Moose with less ice time. Pretty sure that 28pts are in the top percentile for 4th liners. Can he play better and be more consistent, i hope so. But saying he doesnt develop or is regressing even is just factually incorrect.
I'm not saying that he is useless. I'm not saying that he can not improve and/or have an NHL career. I'm certainly not saying that we should dump him. I'm was just saying that Kasper has the potential to be a more dynamic player, and might actually be a bigger pain in the ass to play against centering the 4th even this season.
We only have 9 forwards signed, 8 if you remove Veleno. I think we are getting a decent influx of prospects on the roster. Mazur and Kasper seem most likely to make the roster. You can add Mazur, Danielson, Kasper and Söderblom and the cap hit is basically $3.6 million for all 4 forwards. Berggren turned down a $2 million AAV contract. He may have priced himself out of the starting lineup.
Where did it say that Berggren turned down 2 mill AAV?
Where did it say that Berggren turned down 2 mill AAV?
The trade for the Cat was July 10th last year. Expect another big trade coming before camp.
I thought the plan was to play prospects?
This thread indicates he turned down an extension. I think I read $2m somewhere but that could be wrong.
Larkin
Berggren rejected an offer back in Feb and Steve's interviews seem to suggest Mazur and Kasper could wind up in Detroit. The fact a deal hasn't been done with either Berggren or Veleno is interesting. You can understand taking your time with deals for Ray and Mo, with Joe and Jonatan, not so much. Add in the addition of Motte on a rock bottom contract and I suspect we are filling the roster with guys who make less than $1 mil.
Berggren not wanting to be here, and the Wings not wanting Veleno would not surprise me. But it is conjecture. Just one of many ways the rest of this offseason can go. And I have a hard time seeing both Kasper and Mazur making the opening night roster, just not the way the Wings operate. Maybe one opening night and one halfway through the season or something.
I don't think Berggren doesn't want to be in Detroit. I'm fairly certain he doesn't want to be in GR, or paid as if that's all he's good for.
With a little bit of wish-casting, here is the 2025-26 lineup.
The point of a fourth line in lalonde system is not to score or provide points. Yeah it’d be great if they did but they aren’t there for that. If this was gallants team construction and system, then it’d be a terrible
they probably wouldn't have much goals against though, and that is what yzerman is trying to do
