Atfer one of the longest preseason, Michael Brandsegg-Nygard's next step is not known at the moment

In the past month and a half, he has moved back and forth between practices with his SHL team Skelleftea, the national team of Norway, and now Detroit Red Wings training camp. His season plan remains unclear, with options that range from another year in Sweden to a stopover next season in the Detroit farm club Grand Rapids AHL to the long-shot prospect of making the NHL roster of the Red Wings.

Although he has not said where he will play, allowing him to keep his options open, the Red Wings have not tethered Brandsegg-Nygård to a certain club. ‘Detroit is not pushing me to a decision, but they obviously have a lot of say,' he told me. The club keeps applying pressure, encouraging him to take the opportunity to develop - whether that's with another season in Sweden, or in one of the more demanding leagues in North America.

And in the same way that the overabundance of commercialism surprised Brandsegg-Nygård, it takes a while to adjust to the pace and physicality of hockey on this side of the Atlantic. Coach Derek Lalonde acknowledges this, while also emphasising his optimism regarding the forward's ‘upside down the line'. ‘It's a great experience for him. He's not quite NHL-ready at 18 but he's likely to move down the road.

His development will be accelerated by a swift-paced games schedule, even though staying in Sweden might offer comfort. Wherever he plays, his training camp experience has enabled him to establish relationships with people in the Red Wings organisational structure. This is so-called overseeding - his time with the Red Wings now better prepares him for that NHL debut.

Source: The Hockey News
After "World's Longest Preseason," Michael Brandsegg-Nygård's Next Step is Unknown - and That's OK