Brandsegg-Nygard Debuts in Red Wings’ 4-2 Preseason Win

The Detroit Red Wings believed they had landed the catch of the day when they reeled in Norwegian forward Michael Brandsegg-Nygard with the 15th pick in the 2024 NHL draft.

But they may not have been as happy as Brandsegg-Nygard was snagging a big salmon while attending the Red Wings training camp at Traverse City last week. It was the first time he hooked a salmon,

“We didn’t weigh it,” Brandsegg-Nygard said. “But it was the biggest one on that fishing trip.”

Life couldn’t be much better for Brandsegg-Nygard. He’s the first Norwegian to be drafted in the first round. Brandsegg-Nygard is at his first training camp, and he played his first NHL preseason game tonight in a 4-2 win against the Chicago Blackhawks. He had one shot, and a penalty, but didn’t figure in the scoring.

Tyler Motte, Jeff Petry, Lucas Raymond and Olli Maatta scored for Detroit. Marco Kasper posted an assist and three shots on goal. Carter Mazur and Emmitt Finnie also had assists.

The young winger Brandsegg-Nygard isn’t worried about that the ice sheet being smaller — 85 feet instead of 100 feet wide — in North America.

“I don’t feel like that will be a problem,” Brandsegg said. “Where I’m from back in Norway, we have an NHL-size rink. So it’s not like the first time I played on it. So just get used to it the first game and you’re good.”

It’s a different game, but he feels the smaller ice offers some advantage.

“The game is a lot faster, smaller ice in the end zones, but also it feels like you can shoot from almost anywhere because it’s so close to the net,” he said. “There are some down sides and upsides.”

Brandsegg-Nygard has one skill that serves him well on any size ice. “I feel like I have a pretty quick release and will try to use it as best as possible,” Brandsegg-Nygard said.

Larkin Teaches by Example

Brandsegg-Nygard is learning from everyone on the team, including the team captain.

“Compete,” he said. “I feel like being in practice with the older guys, especially (Dylan) Larkin, the captain, he’s competing in every drill, goes and plays physical and wants to win every time. So I try to watch him.”

The Red Wings don’t usually bring Europeans over the season after they are drafted. The made an exception for Brandsegg-Nygard because he’s more mature physically and proved he can compete against men in some World Championship games. They want to give him as many preseason games as possible.

Coach Derek Lalonde hopes to give him some power play time.

“Hopefully he gets some touches and some looks and once he get his shot off playing with smart players, no different than how you set them up for success in the season,” Lalonde said. “Play with some players, I can do some work for them. So yeah, again, you want to give these guys plenty of opportunity, but in the right situation. ”

If Brandsegg-Nygard doesn’t make the Red Wings this season, he will play in the Swedish Hockey League. He’s on the same Skelleftea AIK team with Red Wings 2023 first-round pick Axel Sandin Pellikka.