Detroit Red Wings prospect, The Taxi (Michael Brandsegg-Nygård), to the SHL or NHL?

The highest drafted Norwegian in the National Hockey League (NHL) Entry Level Draft joined Skellefteå of the Swedish Hockey League (SHL) for preseason play. 

Since his first game with the team, Michael Brandsegg-Nygård has drawn attention. 

It’s become quite comical watching the Detroit Red Wings draft selections, and the general reaction from public scouts and fans. Seemingly a once unpredictable game has become rather boring to some people, even annoying to other individuals. 

If there’s a two-way guy who is currently or set to play in the SHL, it’s likely the Detroit Red Wings will pick him. The Detroit Red Wings tend to go for this type of player regardless of position (much to the dismay of the dreamers longing for a home run swing).

It’s quite the plot twist since the 2019 NHL Entry Level Draft shock pick in Moritz Seider. Some people are still surprised at the selections under Steve Yzerman, the general manager of the Detroit Red Wings. However, it’s not too surprising given the information that’s shared with the public in what they look for in a prospect.

The most recent first round selection is no different. A highly competitive, two-way forward with a bit more bite than I anticipated is turning heads thus far in his SHL career.

Should Michael Brandsegg-Nygård play in the SHL or the NHL this upcoming season?

It’s a question that is difficult to answer, but I’ll do my best to break it all down.

Brandsegg-Nygård spent time in the Swedish junior and HockeyAllsvenskan (a second tier men’s league in Sweden). In his most recent season (2023-24), he played in 41 regular season games with eight goals and 10 assists for 18 total points with 19 penalty minutes. Also, he finished with a +3 rating. 

During the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) play (various levels), Brandsegg-Nygård’s statistic line reads: 

34 games 21 goals 10 assists 31 total points 4 penalty minutes -5 rating

Of the total games, seven were played against men where he scored three goals, two assists for a total of nine points with two penalty minutes. He had a -6 rating. While it’s not the best showing for his defensive play or two-way game, it showed he could create offense in an unforgiving competition. 

When Brandsegg-Nygård seems to shine the most, though, is when the stakes are at their highest. 

In the qualification games for his HockeyAllsvenskan team, Mora IK, he played in 12 games, scored four goals, six assists for ten total points with eight penalty minutes and a +1 rating.

When the going got tough, he showed that he could be relied on for pops of offense, which is great to see from a supposedly lower ceiling player in terms of offense. To me, I have seen great traits from Brandsegg-Nygård that should translate well to the NHL. Regardless of any limitations others apply to him, the sky is the limit for him.

While skating in his first 

Although he’s a young player in a new environment, Brandsegg-Nygård appears right at home in Skellefteå. Seemingly a very welcoming team, who is entertaining on and off of the ice, it’s a place that I would be happy for Brandsegg-Nygård to call home for a season or two.

Seeing him play against grown men and putting them on their bums is always a fun sight. 

I reckon, lots of Detroit Red Wings fans have wandering minds, “What if Brandsegg-Nygård plays for the Detroit Red Wings this season as opposed to playing in the SHL?” It’s a great question.

Brandsegg-Nygård has put in the work, it’s not to say other prospects don’t, but he stands at six feet one inches tall (185 centimeters) and weighs 207 pounds (94 kilograms). Maybe he can add a bit to his frame or tinker with his workout routine, but in the grand scheme I don’t think the plan is for Brandsegg-Nygård to add much more weight. It’s something that I rarely see, and I can’t quite remember a time that I said that about a player right after he was drafted.

Even Marco Kasper took two offseasons and a full season to reach an ideal frame, Lucas Raymond took a bit longer. Brandsegg-Nygård, on the other hand, seems a bit ahead of the curve in that regard.

He could realistically hold his own against men in either the American Hockey League (AHL) or National Hockey League (NHL) physically. However, I’m not sure that he is mentally ready for the jump.

The grapevine hinted that Brandsegg-Nygård may attend the Detroit Red Wings training camp in Traverse City, Michigan. I’m not sure if he will play in some preseason games, but if he does and he plays well, he might have a case. 

His game is well-rounded as is, but I think there’s quite a bit that he could benefit from playing with Skellefteå. They have a great track record in helping Axel Sandin-Pellikka develop and Jonatan Berggren, and even Viktor Arvidsson of the Edmonton Oilers. He could gain a lot of knowledge and experience playing with Skellefteå.

My biggest question, what would help his development more, the long way around or a direct flight to the NHL?

Since Brandsegg-Nygård’s already set to play in the SHL, I think it’s likely that’s where he plays unless he blows the doors off like Raymond in 2021. If he returns to the SHL, it’s not a failure or a step back in his development, and I hope it’s not looked at as such if it happens. 

To me, as much as I would love watching Brandsegg-Nygård in the NHL, I think depth and previous commitments lean me towards him not playing in North America for the 2024-25 season. His opportunities will come, I think it’s just in the best interest of all parties involved to wait (as much as I don’t like the waiting game). 

There is no rush in him playing full-time in the NHL and he has plenty to learn playing in the SHL.

Plus, I kind of want to watch Brandsegg-Nygård and Sandin-Pellikka join the team at the same time to see how Mickey Redmond responds.