St. Louis Blues Benefit As Patrik Berglund Added To Team Sweden

Patrik Berglund has been added to Team Sweden. Contrary to worries, this should be a good thing.

The injury bug continues to bite World Cup players. Patrik Berglund will be the beneficiary, as he has been named to Team Sweden.

In an interesting turn of events, Berglund was eventually put on the team in the spot some thought he should have had anyway. Richard Rakell was named in Alexander Steen‘s place when he was officially ruled out with his shoulder issue.

Rakell now has a stomach virus and had to be admitted to the hospital. The virus, coupled Rakell being over in Sweden, have ruled him out of the tournament.

Some might think Rakell could recover before the tournament, which begins Saturday. If he was already in Canada or the United States, Team Sweden may have been more likely to wait.

However, given the fact the virus is bad enough to put him in the hospital, there is no timetable for when he would be better. Pair that with him being half a world away and it’s a wise decision to make the swap.

Now, Berglund gets his shot. Some were a little surprised that the 22 year old Rakell got the not over Berglund in the first place.

Rakell wasn’t an odd choice though. He was coming off a 20 goal, 43 point season with the Ducks. Berglund scored 15 points in 42 games after having his own surgery prior to the 2015-16 season.

Berglund can now attempt to get in full swing before Blues camp even begins. He scored two goals and had three points in six games during his last stint with Sweden in the Olympics.

Even if he does not score, playing in games that mean something to the players instead of just typical exhibition games in preseason will only help. It should be particularly good for Berglund who missed much of last season.

This line of thinking goes against my earlier assertion that Steen missing was a good thing. You need to take these situations case by case though.

Steen is coming off surgery and playing in a tournament that has already been chippy in the exhibition build up would be bad for him. It can and should be good for Berglund.

Despite the short season, Berglund started to step his game up last year. He had four goals and nine points during the playoffs.

Playing in an international tournament, going against some skilled teams like Team North America, will sharpen him heading into the upcoming season in a way preseason games probably would not. The Blues need everyone playing as sharp as they can right off the bat.

It’s a shame that players have to miss this tournament because of injuries or illness. It has worked out in the Blues favor so far though.