What to Expect from Michael Brandsegg-Nygard in Training Camp
Red Wings 2024 first round pick Michael Brandsegg-Nygard will interrupt his season in Sweden to attend Detroit's prospect tournament and development camp later this month. Here's what to expect from the prospect in his appearances.
It's rare for a hockey player in Sweden to get a two-week break to attend an NHL training camp. Swedish Hockey League clubs rarely let a high-caliber player take an absence at the start of the season, especially when the break might turn into a much longer leave. Yet, that's exactly what Skelleftea AIK is allowing Michael Brandsegg-Nygard to do this month.
After a strong SHL preseason, Olympic Qualifying tournament and Champions Hockey League slate to start his 2024-25 season, Brandsegg-Nygard is putting his European season on hold for a couple weeks to attend the Red Wings' prospect tournament and training camp in Traverse City. It's an opportunity for the 15th overall pick in the 2024 draft to show how he stacks up against pro competition, as well as where he fits in Detroit's overall system.
Given the rarity of such a situation as Brandsegg-Nygard's, it's hard to define what exactly one should expect from him. While he has a chance to make the NHL roster at this camp, the likelihood of him doing so isn't very high given the established NHLers Detroit has under contract. Yet, considering Brandsegg-Nygard is already under contract in Sweden on a championship-defending Skelleftea team, Detroit bringing him over means that there's some overall purpose to this training camp appearance.
As far as the meaning of his training camp appearance, there's a chance that a strong showing could give Brandsegg-Nygard an opportunity to play in a better league than the SHL — even if the NHL spots are spoken for, he could earn an AHL roster spot if he performs well in camp. At the AHL level, his checking and shot would still be useful while allowing him to acclimate to North American play styles. He could also add some depth to a Grand Rapids roster that is aiming at playoff success later in the season. If Brandsegg-Nygard earns this opportunity, that would be an encouraging sign for both him and the Red Wings organization as a whole.
As one of the more pro-ready prospects in his draft class, Brandsegg-Nygard's forechecking ability and strong shot should hold up against established pros he's competing against. He even showed the effectiveness of those skills in his SHL appearances so far this preseason and season, jamming opponents with body checks and scoring a handful of goals.
Now, it's important to note that there's an apparent talent gap between Sweden and the NHL. Just because he performs well in the SHL doesn't mean he'll automatically thrive during training camp. But that therein shows another reason why this camp is so important for him: it's as much an educational field trip as it is a job interview.
At this point in his career, an 18-year-old Brandsegg-Nygard isn't being hurried to reach the NHL level. Detroit is known for taking a patient approach to its prospects under general manager Steve Yzerman, and that's especially true for players the club just drafted a few months ago. By inviting Brandsegg-Nygard to Traverse City, he gets to try out without stakes, showing him the expectations of the future without judging him by them. And even if he winds up heading back to Sweden at the end of camp and preseason, he's no step behind where he was already at in playing for Skelleftea. This is truly a scenario where he and Detroit are playing with house money.
This month's prospect tournament and training camp are big opportunities for Brandsegg-Nygard, regardless of the stakes or lack thereof. Given the rarity of such an opportunity, the Red Wings and their recent draft pick are in a great position. Even if one can't expect him to make the NHL roster outright or even guarantee an AHL spot, Brandsegg-Nygard stands to gain from this experience no matter how — or where — the opportunity goes.
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