The St. Louis Blues have a wide range of wingers that can be used on a nightly basis. Among them, Jonatan Berggren has been a useful depth option who can compliment the forward core. Where is the ceiling though? Claimed off of waivers from Detroit last December, he gave the Blues six goals and 16 points in 36 games, then signed a one-year, $2 million deal after St. Louis initially declined to qualify him. He will be an arbritration-eligible RFA again next summer, but is holding more of a depth, placeholder role than one who has carved out a spot written in pen.
While his replacement has not officially inked an NHL contract, it appears that spot could soon belong to Dmitry Buchelnikov.
The Russian winger arrived in the trade for Justin Faulk last March, and is signed to a one-year contract with CSKA Moscow. Buchelnikov is unable to play in North America until that contract is up, or CSKA releases him early (which is unlikely).
If he does come over in the summer of 2027, the Blues could only sign him to a one-year entry-level contract. That means, the same spot on the wing could be had for a fraction of the cost with arguably a higher offensive ceiling if the rest of his game traslates well to the NHL.
Skilled winger who finishes, not survives
During the 2025-26 season, he played 44 games after shoulder surgery cost him three months. Buchelnikov still managed to score 14 goals and 25 points with only 10 penalty minutes, six of those goals coming on the power play, five being game-winners. He averaged 15:29 of time on ice per game, including 2:47 on the man-advantage with a 15.4 shooting percentage on 91 attempts.
Only one season before, he played on a weaker Vityaz club still putting up 54 points in 65 games, second among all U22 players in the KHL that season. Before turning 23, he already sat among the league’s most productive young forwards.
What Buchelnikov does not do is play heavy. The right winger is 5-foot-10 and roughly 170 pounds and he recorded 29 hits and 18 blocked shots. Berggren on the other hand is 5-foot-11 and 195 pounds with 205 NHL games already under his belt. The Blues would need to pair Buchelnikov with a little more muscle on his line, and continue developing him to win enough puck battles against the Central division.
Berggren’s window could rapidly close
Beggren’s contract expires after the 2026-27 season, the same time Buchelnikov’s does. He attended development camp this summer and said the NHL has become the goal, not a dream. He chose another year in Moscow to help continue his development against men while playing in a familiar environment.
If both sides can come to an agreement less than a year from now, St. Louis can move Berggren’s rights either by themselves or as part of a package deal. For now, Blues fans can keep an eye on Buchelnikov’s progress as someone who could be scoring goals in St. Louis as soon as next season.
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