2024 Detroit Red Wings first round pick Michael Brandsegg-Nygård has covered a LOT of miles this season. He took part in SHL preseason with Skellefteå AIK, then he joined the Red Wings for their training camp and preseason, before returning to Europe to play out the regular season in Skellefteå. After that campaign wrapped up, Brandsegg-Nygård jetted back across the Atlantic to join the Grand Rapids Griffins, participating in their short-lived Calder Cup Playoff run. Now, his trans-Atlantic journey will have one more stop: joining Team Norway for the IIHF World Championship.
Oct 1, 2024; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Detroit Red Wings right wing Michael Brandsegg-Nygård (28) takes the ice against the Pittsburgh Penguins during the first period at PPG Paints Arena. (Charles LeClaire, Imagn Images)
In so doing, Brandsegg-Nygård becomes the sixth Red Wing (or at least member of the organization) to suit up at this year's edition of Worlds, joining Marco Kasper (Austria), Moritz Seider (Germany), and Swedes Erik Gustafsson, Simon Edvinsson, and Lucas Raymond. The Norwegians have already played twice since the tournament's round robin began (losing both), and Brandsegg-Nygård is expected to debut in Tuesday's game against Seider and Germany.
He is the first Norwegian ever selected in the first round of the NHL Draft, so Brandsegg-Nygård will be looking to provide his countrymen with a boost. He should arrive in strong form. While the postseason was a disaster for the Griffins, who were swept out of the first round, blowing a three-goal third period lead then losing in double overtime to end the season, Brandsegg-Nygård put forth a strong individual showing, with two goals and three points in three playoff games.
