Let me get this straight. After weeks of trade rumors involving Patrik Berglund, you sign him for 3 years at 11.1 million dollars. I am not buying what General Manager Doug Armstrong is selling me. There is no way Berglund dresses as a St. Louis Blues player next season. This deal, announced Thursday, is going to be part of a trade that will be coming very soon. If this isn’t the case, the Blues just co-signed for 3 years of mediocrity and may as well burn a pile of cash equaling 11.1 million dollars. Berglund is never going to be the big game dynamic player that carried him into the league. The expectations were that Berglund would be a large sized forward with slick hand skills and an ability to score at will.
He has been in the league since 2008-09 where he scored 21 goals and made an instant impact. His best season came in 2010-11 where he tallied 52 points and played all 81 games. As is the case with T.J. Oshie, Erik Johnson, and David Perron, Berglund is all about the potential to be great. All these guys came into the league around the same time and Johnson and Perron have been traded to other teams while Oshie has finally matured as a fine NHL player. If Berglund could do half the things Oshie could do, the 3.7 million would be justified. It’s too bad he can’t. Berglund is a flop and won’t turn into a great player any time soon.
Last year, he scored 14 goals and tallied 32 points in 78 games. 32 points in 78 games is what I said. That’s crap. That won’t cut if with the size and potential Berglund brings to the team. With younger talent craving spots on this roster, Berglund can’t afford to waste another season skating around playing scared. That’s right. He plays small for his large Swedish body and doesn’t go into the dirty areas. Someone saying that Berglund is out there to be a good defender is like saying I am worthy of playing on a soccer field with professionals. He floats around the ice and doesn’t score enough to fit that mode. He’s wasted talent.
For all the people who think Vladimir Sobotka is overrated and place the gold crown keeper on Berglund’s head, consider this first.
Sobotka tallied 33 points in only 61 games last season. Sobotka had a better +/- rating of +14 than Berglund’s +10. Sobotka is an expert at winning faceoffs in either zone and plays “bigger” than his small frame. Sobotka can get out there and play physical and derail a star player’s game. He is tenacious, pesky and everything you want in a versatile hockey player. They are different players but since all I heard yesterday was comparisons between the two, I had to come here with standard ammo and backup rounds to make this point. I am not saying pay Sobotka this kind of money, but I sign him long term before I sign Berglund. In the long run, Sobotka gives you more every game than Berglund. That’s all. Sobotka plays like he is Berglund’s size and Berglund plays down to Sobotka’s size. If that makes any sense.
Berglund plays mostly on the third line and 3.7 million per season is too much for a third winger/center. Sorry folks. This deal is a precursor for another one, which could be a trade today or Monday. It may be for Jason Spezza or possibly for another player who can actually fulfill the needs of a #2 center. Berglund’s time here is done. How much longer do you want to give him to turn into a player he isn’t even coming close to? He had his chance and now it’s time to send him off somewhere that carries new expectations and no past regret.
This is a huge decision making period for the Blues general manager. The time has come for Armstrong to take a serious look at his roster and see which pieces are expendable and holding the team back. As much blame as fans can throw on Ryan Miller for the recent playoff failure, every logical fan knows the question surrounds the entire team and the way this roster is made up. There’s no reason to keep young or aging forwards who aren’t producing at the clip they are paid to do. 32 points from Berglund won’t cut it and expecting more in 2014-15 would be futile.
Mark my words. The Berglund deal is part of a sign/trade transaction happening very soon.
Thanks for staying.
Image Credit-zimbio.com
