It hasn’t been an easy 12 months for next Bergfors. After finally cracking the Devils lineup last season he went through some hot stretches broken up by extended scoring droughts before going stone cold leading up to his trade to Atlanta in February. Making the adjustment from a defense-first system to the run-and-gun style of last year’s Thrashers he scored six goals in his first eight games but scored just two in his remaining 19 while picking up eight assists.
Playing for his third coach in less than half a season Bergfors is having to adjust again, learning a new system that demands strong two-way play. After picking up assists in each of the first two games Bergfors had a quiet game against the LA Kings and found himself scratched for the team’s matchup with the Ducks in Anaheim. He replaced an injured Freddy Modin in San Jose and logged a modest 11:43, all at even strength.
Asked what he thought of Bergfors’ first game back in the lineup head coach Ramsay said, “I thought he did very well. He had a couple chances but I don’t know if he got a shot off or not. He had one really good one that I thought he might snap home. ”
“It hasn’t been easy for him,” added Ramsay. “It’s not easy to bounce in and out of the lineup, but he smiles and he’s ready to play and that’s very, very important. That’s part of what we’re trying to accomplish here. You might not be the star one night but you have to be ready to go because you’re part of the team.”
With Freddy Modin still on the mend Bergfors may get a chance to prove himself again tomorrow night against the Sabres.
“I’m going to keep working hard to get better.” he told the AJC yesterday.
That should be music to Ramsay’s ears, because if Bergfors can regain the form that helped him score those six goals in his first eight games as a Thrasher he’ll be yet another weapon that the opposition has to be concerned about on this very balanced Thrashers roster.