Red Wings Prospect Brandsegg-Nygard Moving On Up

There wasn’t much for the Grand Rapids Griffins to get excited about as the top farm club of the Detroit Red Wings was dropping another game in the AHL Calder Cup playoffs.

Michael Brandsegg-Nygard was a bright light on an otherwise dark night.

The Norwegian winger, Detroit’s top pick in the 2024 NHL entry draft, fired his first AHL goal and it was a thing of beauty.

Positioning himself in the slot, Brandsegg-Nygard took a behind-the-net pass from Dominik Shine and ripped a one-timer blast into the net before Texas Stars goalie Remi Poirier even had time to react.

THE FIRST OF MANY TO COME 🥳 pic.twitter.com/giWaeZiKMq

— x – Grand Rapids Griffins (@griffinshockey) May 6, 2025

“Thought he had some good shots on net, which is obviously, that’s a weapon for him,” Griffins coach Dan Watson said.

Starting the 4-2 loss to the Stars on the Griffins fourth-line, in his third AHL game, Brandsegg-Nygard was working himself into a top-six role as the night was progressing.

“For sure. I thought he was more comfortable in his play,” Watson said. “I thought he played really well. We obviously moved him up the lineup as the game went along. Just thought he was physical. And yeah, I’m pleased with the way he played.”

Red Wings Pick Making Transition

It’s been a whirlwind for the player the Red Wings chose 15th overall in last year’s draft. Brandsegg-Nygard arrived in Michigan earlier this month after his Swedish team Skelleftea was knocked out of the playoffs. Since then, he’s been taking a crash course in learning the variations of how the game is played on this side of the Atlantic Ocean.

“I’ve talked a lot with the development coaches and the coaches here to try to think about what I have to do,” Brandsegg-Nygard said. “So I feel like I’m getting better and have the American mindset.

What is the American mindset toward hockey, according to Brandsegg-Nygard?

“Just get the puck north and get it to the net,” he said.

Always fun to watch the development of young players and predict the prospects who will make it. Hopeful future @DetroitRedWings in this photo…..Emmitt Finnie, Cross Hanas, Axel Sandin-Pellikka, Nate Danielson, Anton Johansson, Amadeus Lombardi and Michael Brandsegg-Nygard. And… pic.twitter.com/gecKccu7yA

— Bob Kaser (@bkaser1) April 17, 2025

Fellow first-round pick Axel Sandin Pellikka, was also a teammate with Brandsegg-Nygard in Skelleftea before coming with him to Grand Rapids. He’s taking delight in seeing his friend succeeding as both are taking the next step up the hockey ladder.

“I think he was really good out there,” Sandin Pellikka said. “One goal, one assist. So happy for him, and I think he’s doing well.”