Elite Norwegian Forward Michael Brandsegg-Nygard is excited about his future in Detroit, but first, he'll have to work his way through the AHL Calder Cup playoffs with the Grand Rapids Griffins.
The Detroit Red Wings' season is finished after a loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs on April 17th. But for their AHL affiliate, the Grand Rapids Griffins, there's still major hockey to play, and Michael Brandsegg-Nygard will get to jump from the SHL to the AHL.
An exciting prospect, for the 1st-round draft pick, selected 15th overall in 2024 by the Red Wings.
«I'm just coming here to try to help the team as much as I can and play my hockey,» said Sandin-Pellikka, who earned his first AHL point already. «I'm looking forward to transitioning to the smaller ice here and playing with Grand Rapids.»
Brandsegg-Nygard isn't a stranger to playoff hockey, as he got to play major minutes in the SHL playoffs for Skellefteå. Nygard's production wouldn't slow down but would increase during the playoffs. He'd score 11 points (5 goals, 6 assists) in the regular season, and followed it up with 10 points (4 goals, 6 assists) in 11 playoff games in the SHL.
He and defenseman Axel Sandin Pellikka would be a one-two punch for Skellefteå giving them a fifth place finish after being eliminated from the playoffs, despite their best efforts.
Now, post SHL playoffs, he'll have to dig in and play in the second-best hockey league in the world for the Grand Rapids Griffins, in the hopes he'll make the Red Wings lineup one day.
He and Sandin Pellikka will join a deep Griffins team led by other prospects, including Nate Danielson, Amadeus Lombardi, and Sebastian Cossa, as they take on the Texas Stars on May 12th in the Central Division Semifinals.