Patrik Berglund is a former Swedish professional ice hockey player who played as a center for the St. Louis Blues in the National Hockey League (NHL). He was born on June 2, 1988, in Västerås, Sweden, and began his hockey career with the local team VIK Västerås HK.
Berglund was drafted by the St. Louis Blues in the first round, 25th overall, in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft. He made his NHL debut in the 2008-09 season and quickly established himself as a reliable two-way forward. He was known for his size, strength, and ability to play in all situations, including the power play and penalty kill.
Berglund played for the Blues for ten seasons, from 2008 to 2018, and was a key contributor to the team's success during that time. He helped the Blues reach the playoffs in six of his ten seasons with the team, including a trip to the Western Conference Finals in 2016.
During his time with the Blues, Berglund scored 168 goals and 322 points in 694 regular-season games. He also played in 49 playoff games, scoring 10 goals and 16 points. He was known for his clutch performances in the playoffs, including a game-winning goal in Game 2 of the 2016 Western Conference Finals against the San Jose Sharks.
In 2018, Berglund was traded to the Buffalo Sabres as part of a multi-player deal. However, he struggled to find his form with the Sabres and was eventually placed on waivers in December 2018. He was then suspended by the team for failing to report to the AHL affiliate, the Rochester Americans.
In January 2019, Berglund terminated his contract with the Sabres and returned to Sweden to play for his former team, VIK Västerås HK. He played for the team for the remainder of the 2018-19 season and helped them earn promotion to the second-tier league, HockeyAllsvenskan.
In May 2019, Berglund announced his retirement from professional hockey at the age of 31. He cited personal reasons for his decision and expressed his gratitude to the St. Louis Blues and their fans for their support throughout his career.
Overall, Patrik Berglund had a successful career in the NHL, playing for one team for ten seasons and helping them reach the playoffs multiple times. While his time with the Buffalo Sabres was short-lived, he was able to return to his hometown team in Sweden and end his career on a positive note.
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