After "World's Longest Preseason," Michael Brandsegg-Nygard's Subsequent Step Unknown — and That is OK

Michael Brandsegg-Nygård referred to as the previous month and a half the “ world’s longest preseason,” and it may be time to name Guinness and confirm. Between his SHL membership Skelleftea, Norway’s nationwide workforce and now Detroit Purple Wings coaching camp, he’s been in numerous practices, scrimmages and exhibitions earlier than enjoying a single common season shift.

So the place precisely will he play that common season? That’s the place issues get fascinating. He may wind up in Sweden once more, the place he confirmed a knack for scoring within the preseason for Skelleftea. He may additionally play in Grand Rapids or — an actual lengthy shot — within the NHL. The choice is his to make, with enter coming from the Purple Wings, too.

“My agent had informed me that Detroit will say what they imply, however they do not need to pressure me to do one thing if I do not need to, however I believe it is my very own alternative,” Brandsegg-Nygård stated Wednesday. “But when Detroit actually desires me to be in a spot, I believe they will simply put me there in the event that they need to. However, they stated they do not need to pressure me.”

That’s a response cautious of how prospect administration works within the NHL, but it surely’s additionally a mirrored image of how huge open every little thing is for Brandsegg-Nygård. His coaching camp and practices so far have been all proper, although not with out a sense of adjustment. The true check will come when he reveals his abilities in a sport. The primary of those alternatives is his look in tonight’s preseason tilt in Chicago, with a reasonably aggressive roster alongside him together with Dylan Larkin and the Purple Wings’ first line. Many eyes will likely be watching Brandsegg-Nygård and the way he can carry out, as a result of these knowledge factors may present lots about the place his sport is in relation to his NHL potential.

Thus far, North American hockey has been an adjustment for Brandsegg-Nygård. He hasn’t separated himself from the pack in lots of drills, both towards prospect friends or execs. These struggles can’t actually be defined by the simple catch-all excuses for many prospects, both. He may be coming over from Europe’s bigger ice sheets, however he grew up in Norway enjoying in NHL measurement rinks. Purple Wings coach Derek Lalonde has pointed to a language barrier, however Norway teaches English in elementary college, and talking with Brandsegg-Nygård reveals he’s mastered the English language.

[Read More: From Sweden to the NHL Draft, Michael Brandsegg-Nygård is Opening Doors for Norwegian Hockey]

Actually, Brandsegg-Nygård’s drawback is that the NHL is a troublesome league to crack at 18 years previous, and he’s not fairly prepared. Older gamers within the league are extra bodily and mentally mature than him, and he’s received lots of rising left to do. This doesn’t imply he has fallen behind in his improvement; he simply isn’t forward.

“The North American sport is lots totally different, it’s simply the truth of it,” Lalonde stated Wednesday. “I believe it will be very useful for him. Even the tempo of follow, even the tempo of the sport. On the similar time, you continue to need him to flourish and develop together with his offense, with the puck on his stick. The place’s it going to permit him (to do this)?”

The subsequent query — the place Brandsegg-Nygård does that rising — is essential.

Ought to Detroit let Brandsegg-Nygård play one other season in Sweden, the place consolation with each expectations and his teammates may result in a better transition, but in addition would possibly take his improvement at a slower tempo? Or ought to the Purple Wings carry him over to the AHL, the place his large measurement and nostril for the online may make him an on the spot scoring menace, but in addition the place dashing up his improvement arc would possibly trigger some challenges as he navigates the change of surroundings. And look, technically the NHL continues to be an possibility. However until he scores one thing like 10 targets in these preseason video games, it’s simply not taking place.

Brandsegg-Nygård has choices, and all eyes are on these subsequent few preseason video games to tell his resolution.

“I believe this will likely be very useful, and I nonetheless suppose I just like the method of (Detroit) being open about him staying over right here this 12 months, or going again,” Lalonde praised. “I believe that’s a luxurious you don’t see lots Credit score again to our administration group, the relationships they’ve together with his European workforce.”

The end result of Brandsegg-Nygård’s alternative doesn’t change what this journey abroad does for him. It places his subsequent steps — in no matter order — from concept into follow.

“If I (do) not make the workforce this 12 months, the subsequent 12 months I’ve yet another 12 months of expertise for the coaching camp and stuff like that,” Brandsegg-Nygård defined. “So I do know the system extra and I’m in all probability extra snug and stuff like that the subsequent 12 months.”

That, at a primary stage, is all Detroit wished out of this journey.

“Actually, the thought of bringing him over is to work with our coaches, work with our employees on his skating, on his energy and conditioning and get a little bit little bit of expertise within the preseason and go from there,” basic supervisor Steve Yzerman stated Sept. 17.

[More Reading: Why Michael Brandsegg-Nygård is Attending Red Wings Training Camp]

In the meantime, Brandsegg-Nygård additionally will get to know many individuals within the Detroit group. There’s his time {golfing} with Nate Danielson and fellow non-Swedish Swedish speaker Marco Kasper. There’s his fishing journey up in Traverse Metropolis. And there’s a complete lot of dinners, meet-and-greets and different buzz that Brandsegg-Nygård will get to participate in. Most significantly, he feels part of the group in a method that being throughout an ocean couldn’t present. That may solely be a great factor for his future with the massive membership, if and when he ought to be part of the NHL ranks.

“That’ll show you how to to really feel snug since you get to speak to them outdoors of hockey, simply not hockey issues on a regular basis,” Brandsegg-Nygård stated. “And it is simply good to know one another (in) totally different locations and never simply the rink.”

Now, it’s on Brandsegg-Nygård to proceed working with this chance, whereas his upcoming alternative of the place to play attracts nearer. Wherever that winds up being, the expertise he’s gaining this preseason is extremely helpful.

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