‘He’s a bull in a China shop’: Red Wings’ Brandsegg-Nygard making most of trip to AHL
GRAND RAPIDS, MI – For any young athlete, a demotion can feel like a real letdown. Yet, for Detroit Red Wings prospect Michael Brandsegg-Nygård, he’s taking everything in stride.
The Oslo, Norway native jumped on the North American scene late last season with the Grand Rapids Griffins, the Red Wings’ American Hockey League affiliate. He and fellow prospect Axel Sandin-Pellikka joined the team after their Swedish Hockey League season with Skellefteå AIK concluded. Brandsegg-Nygård played well, putting up three points in the team’s three games in the Calder Cup Playoffs.
That carried over into training camp earlier this fall, where the 20-year-old, along with Sandin-Pellikka and Emmitt Finnie, forced the hands of the Red Wings’ brass to give him a shot in the NHL. Brandsegg-Nygård made it onto the opening night roster and saw some time in the top six with veteran Patrick Kane suffering an injury last month.
Simply making the Red Wings out of camp surprised MBN.
“I wasn’t expecting to start there when I came over here,” Brandsegg-Nygård said in an interview with Daily Faceoff. “So, that was a little bonus. Of course, it’s always cool to get a debut in some place. It’s my dream to play in the NHL. So, it was cool to experience that a little.”
Brandsegg-Nygård couldn’t quite find his footing with the big club. While he notched his first NHL point, an assist against the New York Islanders on Oct. 23, there were some noticeable holes in his game that the Wings felt like he needed to develop further. Brandsegg-Nygård was then sent back down to Grand Rapids.
Yet, that hasn’t deterred Brandsegg-Nygård’s mindset. The 2024 first-round pick has viewed the return to West Michigan as an opportunity to better his game.
“It isn’t bad to get sent down. You want to stay up there, but they probably wanted me to come down here and get a little more time on the ice and develop, and then hopefully [become] a better player and stay there [in Detroit].”
Among the many adjustments Brandsegg-Nygård has had to make in transitioning to the North American game, he acknowledges that the pace of play has forced him to improve certain areas of his game over the offseason.
“I’m trying to just be faster, like keep my feet moving. I’m still a young guy, so I’m still just trying to develop everything. Shot, speed, strength, everything. So, yeah, I mean, I wasn’t really focusing on [just one thing]. … It’s a smaller rink here, so you have to move quickly. Everything’s going faster, and you want to keep up and drive the tempo higher. Quick feet isn’t bad [for that].”
What made Brandsegg-Nygård a notable prospect was his strength, as well as his wicked shot. His willingness to play physically is perfect for the NHL. Even with having to work on his approach, Brandsegg-Nygård notes that he doesn’t feel like he has to change the type of player he is to make an impact.
“I don’t really think I had to change my game. I feel like, and heard that, I play a North American style of hockey. So, and I hope I do that too. But, I don’t think I have to change a lot. Just trying to improve everything.”
MBN’s teammate, Austin Watson, enjoys seeing what the rookie has to offer, mentally and physically.
“He does such a good job of not letting a ton phase him,” Watson said after last Wednesday’s victory over the Toronto Marlies. “He’s kind of a bull in a China shop. He gets a lot done, and he’s got such a great frame. I think he understands the pro game…He’s only going to get better, too.”
Since returning to Grand Rapids, MBN has been on the top line alongside fellow prospect Amadeus Lombardi. Lombardi, a speedy playmaker in his own right, admits that playing with Brandsegg-Nygård highlights both of their skill sets.
“I really like playing with him,” Lombardi stated. “I think we’re starting to develop some good chemistry, even getting back to camp when we were playing together, we felt good. My game is to get guys pucks, and he’s a shooter…I’m excited to keep playing with him.”
Grand Rapids head coach Dan Watson likes the level of work ethic the young winger brings to the table and his potential to be a 200-foot player. Yet, he acknowledges there’s some necessary fine-tuning to help him make the jump to the NHL full-time.
“For him, it’s just getting to understand the North American game,” Watson said last Wednesday. “Things happen a little bit quicker. Obviously, he’s got a great shot…But now it’s getting him to go to the net, trying to find those second-chance opportunities. Defensive awareness is good. His skating is good. He plays heavy and physical. It’s just rounding out the knowledge of North American hockey and getting him to really understand what that’s about.”
Given his familiarity with the team, Brandsegg-Nygård has welcomed the return to Grand Rapids.
“It’s a really nice group. Feels like everyone’s friends with everyone, and we have good chemistry in the locker room. So, it’s just fun to be here and I feel like we’re working hard and everyone’s passionate about winning games. It seems like it’s going well here, so I’m just gonna keep going and doing what we’re doing.”
While the obvious goal is to get back to the NHL, Brandsegg-Nygård isn’t focusing on his numbers, as he’s simply focusing on getting better every day so he can make his next shot with the Red Wings a long one.
“I’m trying to just improve my game. Of course, I’m going to score more goals, but I mean, I think if I play good hockey, then we’re winning games. That’s the most important part.”
In five games so far with the Griffins, Brandsegg-Nygård has a goal and an assist. He’s part of a team that won its first eight games of the 2025-26 season, marking the best start in the franchise’s 30-year history. As of Friday, the team has yet to lose a game in regulation.
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