The Detroit News’s Ted Kulfan profiles Red Wings prospect Michael Brandsegg-Nygard this afternoon:
A tremendous training camp might change things, but a stint in Grand Rapids seems likely. Especially with specific areas to Brandsegg-Nygard’s game that need progressing.
“My dream and my goal is to make the team (the Wings) and we’ll see what happens,” Brandsegg-Nygard said. “But I’m happy with GR too. I’ll do my best to make the team one day. I’m young, so I got to develop everything. But a few things I focus more on is my speed — to have a lot of speed, have quick turns. That’s what I’m focusing on this summer.”
The way [Red Wings assistant director of player development Dan] Cleary sees it, Brandsegg-Nygard is capable of passing the AHL test and succeeding in the NHL.
“I expect him to come in — and of course there’s going to be some growing pains — but we’ve got great coaches (in Grand Rapids), and I’ll be down there quite a bit with him,” Cleary said. “He’s got a game that is built for this North American style.”
Brandsegg-Nygard displayed some maturity when asked about his overall experience at the recent development camp. Most young players talked about the thrill of meeting past Red Wings greats who served as coaches at the camp, or simply being awed by Little Caesars Arena and the creature comforts. But Brandsegg-Nygard enjoyed another aspect of the camp.
“It’s always fun to meet the people that work here,” said Brandsegg-Nygard of the men and women behind the scenes. “A lot of the staff are just really fun to talk to, so I have a lot of fun.”
