{"id":158467,"date":"2025-09-15T13:12:07","date_gmt":"2025-09-15T13:12:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/158467\/"},"modified":"2025-09-15T13:12:07","modified_gmt":"2025-09-15T13:12:07","slug":"mbn-could-make-push-for-red-wings-spot","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/158467\/","title":{"rendered":"MBN Could Make Push For Red Wings Spot"},"content":{"rendered":"

Michael Brandsegg-Nygard<\/a> in the opening-night lineup for the Detroit<\/a> Red Wings? Unlikely, but not out of the question.<\/p>\n

If there\u2019s anything we\u2019ve learned so far about Brandsegg-Nygard, it\u2019s that the Norwegian winger is a quick study. He tends to figure things out and adapt to scenarios rapidly.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t think there\u2019s going to be a long transition period for him to get used to how to play here in North America,\u201d Grand Rapids Griffins<\/a> coach Dan Watson said.<\/p>\n

Joseph Woll robs Brandsegg-Nygard! pic.twitter.com\/TlQbE1Dyya<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Omar (@TicTacTOmar) October 5, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n

Could it happen fast enough for Brandsegg-Nygard to open the NHL season in Detroit?<\/p>\n

Maybe.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s not like such an outcome would be unprecedented.<\/p>\n

In 2022, another big forward, Elmer Soderblom<\/a>, grabbed a spot off a strong preseason showing. The year before, Lucas Raymond<\/a> did likewise and never looked back.<\/p>\n

Red Wings Can Use What Brandsegg-Nygard Has To Offer<\/p>\n

Even if he doesn\u2019t break camp with the big club, Brandsegg-Nygard could show the Red Wings he\u2019s ready by dominating in the AHL. That\u2019s what got Marco Kasper quickly promoted last season.<\/p>\n

A clear asset in Brandsegg-Nygard\u2019s toolkit is that what he brings to the ice is a quality that the Red Wings don\u2019t possess in quantity. He plays a hard, heavy game. He\u2019ll go into traffic and barge into the corners with a determined ferocity.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think one thing is we can see he\u2019s a competitor,\u201d Watson said. \u201cHe\u2019s winning a lot of 50-50 battles with a stick, with his body.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s a physical player. He gets right in there.\u201d<\/p>\n

On top of that, MBN is also a finisher. He can put the puck in the net.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s got that quick-release shot,\u201d Watson said. \u201cSo anything in tight, you know he\u2019s going to get that off.\u201d<\/p>\n

MBN on the board! pic.twitter.com\/rwAIE0xoOG<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) September 14, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n

Unlike the majority of European players, Brandsegg-Nygard feels his game is better-suited to play on the smaller North American ice surface.<\/p>\n

\u201cI feel like it\u2019s more physical over here, and I like to be the physical player of the game, so I\u2019m trying to do that,\u201d Brandsegg-Nygard said. \u201cAnd, I mean, I like that it\u2019s always going north every time, so we get like skating toward the O zone.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd I do not like to play in the D zone. So it\u2019s fun to, like, just get it up right away. And yeah, I mean, hockey is hockey.\u201d<\/p>\n

Will Brandsegg-Nygard open the NHL season with Detroit?<\/p>\n

Logically, probably not.<\/p>\n

Could Brandsegg-Nygard open the NHL season with Detroit?<\/p>\n

All we\u2019re saying is, there\u2019s a chance.<\/p>\n

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