Around this time last season, the Detroit Red Wings were contemplating sending Michael Brandsegg-Nygard down to the Grand Rapids Griffins. While he led the team in hits, MBN's lack of production showed that he needed a bit of time developing before he'd truly be ready for NHL action.
Now, a year later, Brandsegg-Nygard has five points in six games -- good for second in scoring among all Red Wings.
Sometimes, giving a young player time to round out their game in the AHL is all they need to find success. Brandsegg-Nygard's explosive start to the season shows just why patience is key when drafting and developing prospects.
At 21 years of age, the sky's the limit for Brandsegg-Nygard. While a small sample size, this high end of production shows just why the Norwegian was drafted 15th overall in 2024.
How Brandsegg-Nygard has found success
At the start of the season, Brandsegg-Nygard played on the bottom line with Nate Danielson and Mason Appleton. This, fortunately, didn't last long. After a brief mid-game line shuffle from head coach Todd McLellan, Brandsegg-Nygard found himself on a brand new line combination alongside Emmitt Finnie and Alex DeBrincat.
This line, thus far, has proven to be a great success, with the trio combining for seven points (four goals, three assists) in Tuesday's game against the New Jersey Devils. Where Finnie brings speed and DeBrincat brings his shot, Brandsegg-Nygard's physicality adds a dimension to the Red Wings that the team has sorely missed for years. MBN currently leads the team in hits with 22 on the season.
The last time the Red Wings had a dynamic power forward that combined physicality with a scoring touch was Johan Franzen. It's been well over a decade since Franzen suited up for the Red Wings and, based on their record, the team has solely missed a player of Brandsegg-Nygard's caliber.
How Brandsegg-Nygard can continue to find success
The most important thing to note is that Brandsegg-Nygard is just 21. There will likely be a few games where his production dips. But, as long as he's remaining a consistent physical threat, he'll be a boon for the Red Wings on the ice. The tenacity he brings to the table is infectious. Emmitt Finnie's fight in the game against the Ottawa Senators is testament to just how quickly Brandsegg-Nygard has rubbed off on the rest of the roster.
In order to find sustained success, MBN will need to stay afloat during the ebb and flow of the hockey season.
There will be winning streaks and tough losing slumps. How Brandsegg-Nygard - and the team at large - respond to this will entirely affect the outlook of the season. Even if the Red Wings fall short this season, it can be a great learning opportunity for the younger Wings on how to deal with adversity.
If the Red Wings keep the DeBrincat, Finnie and Brandsegg-Nygard line together, it's safe to say the departure of Patrick Kane will be an afterthought in the future.
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