Well, things got weird fast for these season previews. With the MBN leading the preseason in both points and goals, Detroit waiving two players functionally cemented his spot. Fortunately, I spent a considerable amount of time watching Skellefteå in the SHL playoffs and Norway in the World Championship, so I’ll do my best to outline where MBN might play and what his role might be. If you want to hear more discussion about the preseason, I am the host of Kicking Tires on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. With that being said, let’s get into it.
Offence:
Role – LW1/RW3: The hardest part about MBN is predicting where he is actually going to play. Personally, I don’t think there is a problem with him on his off-wing on LW1. His skill set doesn’t really depend on what side of the ice he is on. MBN can bang and crash on either wing, plus playing his off wing makes those one-timers open up more. However, if you don’t want to break a rookie in on his off-wing, I doubt he is replacing Kane, so RW3 seems like the most natural fit.
Where – Dirty areas/flank: You’re going to see two different styles of MBN’s game in the offensive zone. Without possession, MBN will be right along the boards, digging the puck out. MBN has no problem freeing the puck from the boards or around the crease to extend possessions. When the team is in control, MBN can be found opening up along the flank for a one-timer. This is why I believe he actually caters more to his off-wing. While he was on the right side, he was certainly creating, but most of his goals in the preseason have come from the left flank for a one-timer.
Pros – Physical play/shooting: In a Florida Panthers league, MBN is the prototypical power forward. He plays a brutal physical game and can knock just about anyone off the puck. MBN plays an aggressive game; it’s either hard physical play or hard shots off his stick. He’s a pain to play against and can be the grit that this team has sorely lacked in years passed.
Cons – Playmaking/puck carrying: MBN lacks a bit of finesse game. While he does have some smooth moments, his game is largely dependent on power. For this season, look for MBN to make the obvious passes when he needs to. Don’t expect to see anything more than average playmaking at best. MBN is also a far better chaser than puck carrier; he’s best without the puck on his stick for very long.
Eye Test: Brandsegg-Nygard is a treat to watch, genuinely. He’s everything that Red Wings fans have been clamouring for. Aggressive, physical play with a hard shot is the perfect complement to Raymond or Larkin. However, he may not get the look there in favour of Emmitt Finnie, so wherever he plays, expect a bloodbath from him in the offensive zone.
Defence:
Role – LW1/RW3: Here’s the bad news: no matter which of these lines MBN is on, he is going to have pretty big defensive responsibilities. Larkin and Raymond play notoriously hard competition, and the Copp line is supposed to be a shut-down line. Either way, MBN is going to have to play pretty stellar defensively and adjust to the pro game quickly to make sure he’s helping his team.
Where – Pressure forward: Brandsegg-Nygard is pretty much your standard pressure forward. He’s fast, aggressive, and able to knock people off the pucks. MBN’s job will be to chase the puck and win back possession rather than guard an area.
Pros – Aggressive/checking: If someone has the puck and MBN is in their airspace, odds are they won’t have the puck for much longer. MBN is relentless in the best way possible, and he backs it up with the power of a freight train. There is more to defending than just hitting people; this isn’t a video game, but the Red Wings lacked the ability to punish sloppy offense, and MBN can do just that.
Cons – Breakout passes/positioning: These are both AHL and SHL problems that might not be in his NHL game, but as it stands, they are likely going to be his downsides defensively. MBN can struggle with stretch passes from his own end, often ending up in a turnover. I’ve also noticed MBN can get too tunnel visioned on getting the puck in a one-on-one, and I’ve seen him lose his man in coverage. With it being his rookie season, it’s fair to expect him to have some lapses in both these areas.
Eye Test: Don’t confuse physicality with good defending. While MBN will free the puck up from big hits, expect a learning curve. Think about how DeBrincat defends. It’s not exactly great, but the effort he puts in makes him solid enough. For this season, that will be MBN. I believe he can grow into a decent defender, but it isn’t in the cards short term.
Special Teams:
Power Play – PP2 Flank: I alluded to it earlier, but MBN was really effective on his off-wing flank. With the second unit having Kasper, JVR, MBN, Soderblom, Berggren, and Copp as forward options, MBN is the only one with a good enough one-timer for the flank. He’s a natural fit on the off wing and expect him to put up around 5-8 goals on the power play this season. While that might not seem like too much, remember this is the second unit, and that is fantastic production if it happens.
Penalty Kill – N/A:
Wrap Up:
That concludes my MBN season preview. If you want to hear more in-depth analysis and conversation, again, Kicking Tires Podcast, wherever you get your podcasts, will be linked again. If you want to read more season previews or more about rookies, they will be linked below and on my author profile. Thanks for reading, and hopefully, see you back soon.
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