DETROIT >> Jonatan Berggren’s season, to an extent, has mirrored the Red Wings’ season.

It was somewhat of a sluggish start, then it picked up when Todd McLellan took over as head coach, and then it settled in somewhere in the middle of the two extremes as the season wound down.

As this season winds down, and you project ahead to training camp in September, there’s a sense McLellan and his staff still aren’t quite sure what they have in Berggren.

The lack of offensive consistency, and the inability to firmly grab hold of a spot in the lineup, continue to be factors

“When we first arrived (Dec. 26) I didn’t know much about Bergy,” McLellan said. “Then he scored two goals on breakaways right away, and you could sense his confidence going up. Now he’s worked his way to that middle ground.

“Ultimately at the end of the day, he and only he is responsible for his results. We can help him, push him in the right direction, but he has to get it out of himself. He’s a real smart player, and he has all the tools to play. He just consistently has to put it all together.

“Self-evaluation is real important for all players, Bergy included.”

Heading into Monday’s game against Dallas, Berggren has 10 goals and 10 assists (20 points) in 72 games with a minus-14 plus-minus rating. The offensive numbers are down from the 15 goals and 28 points Berggren, 24, notched two seasons ago in 67 games. Berggren only played 12 games last season, spending most of the schedule in Grand Rapids.

Berggren was likely to see playing time on the top line with Dylan Larkin and Lucas Raymond on Monday, an attempt to end the season, possibly, on a positive note and a chance to showcase Berggren’s offensive skills with Larkin and Raymond.

“We need to see him competitive,” McLellan said of what the Wings need to see in the future from Berggren. “If he’s to tip the scales offensively, and not so much defensively, let’s see some of that. But we’ve been asking for that a lot this year. You’re also victim sometimes of the circumstances of where you play and how much you play in the lineup. I don’t think Bergy fits in well being on the fourth line. He’s much better in the top-nine (forwards), but you also have to capture the moment when you’re there.

“I’d like to see him capture this moment. It may not mean anything in the standings, but for him individually, capture the moment.”

Blending well

When McLellan and his assistant Trent Yawney took over in December, replacing Derek Lalonde and his assistant Bob Boughner, McLellan was tasked with blending holdovers from Lalonde’s staff, never an easy situation.

But the newly formed staff has appeared to fit together nicely, and McLellan likes how the staff is constructed heading into the off-season.

“I like our staff,” McLellan said. “One of the toughest things is blending a staff halfway through a year. The loyalty among staff members is real strong. There’s a strong bond, it’s never divided, and I know from talking to Yawns (Yawney), if you lose somebody you trust and value in whatever position they’re in halfway through the year, and blend two staffs together, it’s not easy. Our staff, in my opinion, did an outstanding job of accepting newness and still remaining loyal (to the past staff).”

McLellan likes the different voices and personalities among his staff.

“Different views and visions on the game, and they’re open to change,” McLellan said. “Allowing their opinions on players to change. It’s a good mix and blend of hockey people in that room right now.”

Good friends

One of McLellan’s best friends in the coaching fraternity was standing on the opposite bench Monday in the Stars’ Peter DeBoer.

A former Plymouth Whalers coach in the OHL, DeBoer and McLellan came out of junior hockey into the pro ranks around the same time, and had a chance to work together when McLellan coached Canada in the world championships in 2015.

“There’s 32 of us (head coaches) and another 20 that are sitting on the sidelines, head coaches in this league, and if I had to pick up the phone in case of an emergency, Pete DeBoer would be at the top of the list,” McLellan said. “I just have a real good relationship with him. We compete against each other respectfully. Our paths are so similar, leaving major junior at the same time, the amount of games, both of us have been in San Jose (as head coaches), a lot of familiarity.

“His wisdom and acumen for the game is off the charts, and yet he makes the game and coaching profession fun. He works his butt off. When we went 10-0 (at the world championships), and we had some pretty good players, but we were in Europe for three weeks and we had some fun and enjoyed (the tournament).

“He’s really good. In a time of need, I would reach out to him in a heartbeat.”