In what can only be described as a puzzling decision, now that it’s too late to help, the Detroit Red Wings are recalling rookie forward Michael Brandsegg-Nygard for the club’s season-ending Florida road trip.
He was summoned under emergency conditions.
The Red Wings play Monday against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Then they close out the NHL regular season on Wednesday against the Florida Panthers.
Brandsegg-Nygard was one of three rookies to make the Red Wings’ opening-night roster out of training camp. He spent two previous stints with Detroit this season. The Norwegian winger has one assist, two penalty minutes, and a minus-five rating in 12 games.
“I feel like I’ve grown into the North American style of hockey,” Brandsegg-Nygard said. “It’s getting used to everything here, like the season and how many games we have.
“So trying to still learn that, but I feel like I’m getting used to it
The Red Wings chose Brandsegg-Nygard 15th overall in the 2024 NHL entry draft. He was the first Norwegian selection in the first round of an NHL entry draft.
Red Wings Pick Blossomed With AHL Griffins
Brandsegg-Nygard would really discover his footing once the club re-assigned him to its top farm club, the AHL Grand Rapids Griffins.
With the Griffins, Brandsegg-Nygard has 20 goals, 44 points, and a plus-19 rating in 58 games. He logged three consecutive multi-point nights from April 1-4 and has seven points (4-3-7) in his last five outings.
Brandsegg-Nygard ranks among the AHL rookie leaders in points (tied for seventh), goals (fifth), assists (tied for 11th), plus-minus rating (tied for sixth), power-play goals (seven, tied for fourth), and game-winners (eight, first). On the Griffins, Brandsegg-Nygard is in a tie for second in points. He’s also third in assists, and fifth in goals (5th)
He was the selection as AHL Player of the Week for the period ending March 1 when he tallied five goals, six points in three games.