Michael
Brandsegg-Nygård
R · DET
- WAR
- -0.2
- PTS
- 1
2025-26№ 523 / 615
Michael Brandsegg-Nygård (Detroit Red Wings) stats and profile: offensive production, ice time, advanced stats, WAR and PAL rating.
Michael Brandsegg-Nygård
#28RPlays: Right wing · 0% of faceoffs
Detroit Red Wings
HEIGHT : 185 cm · WEIGHT : 93 kg · SHOOTS : R
Born : October 4, 2005 · Oslo, Norway
Drafted : 2024 · DET · round 1, pick #15
Contract : $975,000 · 2024-25 → 2027-28 · Entry-Level Contract · RFA · Signing bonus $97,500
NHL record
| Year | Team | GP | G | A | PTS | PIM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-27 | Detroit Red Wings | 18 | 3 | 7 | 10 | 12 |
| 2025-26 | Detroit Red Wings | 14 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| NHL totals | 32 | 3 | 8 | 11 | 14 | |
Michael Brandsegg-Nygård: our analysis
2025-26 season: 14 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 1 PTS, -5 +/-, 12:31 TOI. WAR -0.2 (523rd of 615).
Michael Brandsegg-Nygård is in his first season in the league. In 2025-26, He his WAR of -0.2 ranks 523rd among 615 regulars, in the bottom quarter.
Breaking down his WAR (goals above average), his biggest contribution: EV defense (+0.2); his biggest cost: finishing (-2.0).
Michael Brandsegg-Nygård's story
Growing up in Oslo, Michael Brandsegg‑Nygård learned hockey within the Vålerenga system while his father, Kjell Richard Nygård, was a former Vålerenga and Norwegian national team player. The local club provided his early structure, shaping both his technical habits and his on‑ice decision making from a young age.
At 16 he already appeared with Vålerenga's senior side in Norway's EliteHockey Ligaen while continuing to play at under‑20 level. In 2022 he moved to Sweden to join Mora IK, spending 2022–23 between the J20 Nationell and HockeyAllsvenskan; he made his Allsvenskan debut on 12 October 2022 and scored his first goal in that league on 7 November 2022. In his draft year he again split junior and professional duties, collecting eight goals and ten assists across 41 Allsvenskan games.
The 2024 NHL Entry Draft was a milestone: selected 15th overall by the Detroit Red Wings, he became the first Norwegian ever taken in the first round. On 11 July 2024 he signed a three‑year entry‑level contract with Detroit. For 2024–25 he remained in Sweden on loan with SHL club Skellefteå AIK in a bid for the Le Mat Trophy; after Skellefteå were knocked out in the semifinals he joined the Grand Rapids Griffins, the Red Wings' AHL affiliate.
Internationally he debuted at senior level during the 2022 MECA Hockey Games as a 17‑year‑old, and played a role in Norway’s triumph in Division I A at the 2023 World Junior Championships. At the 2024 World Juniors he scored three goals and had five points in five games. He was also among the youngest players at the 2024 World Championship, finishing with three goals and five points in seven games.
Scouts have pointed to his shot, developed hockey IQ and unusually mature approach to the game for his age. Those attributes have eased his transition from Norwegian junior ranks through Swedish pro leagues and into the Red Wings organization.
Facts drawn from Wikipédia, told in our own words.
Advanced stats
- TOI/GP
- 15:36
- PP TOI/GP
- 1:37
- SH TOI/GP
- 0:00
- Pts/GP
- 0.56
- EV points
- 9
- Hits
- 79
- Blocks
- 5
- Takeaways
- 9
- Corsi % (SAT)
- 55.3 %
- Off. zone starts
- 32.5 %
- Faceoffs
- 57.1 %
Stats and photos: NHL (NHL.com)
Prospect value
Scout Report Center →Rank
46
among all 32 teams' prospects
Rating
96/ 100
percentile among prospects at his position
Potential
70/ 80
First line or top pair
Ceiling: 10.1 WAR from age 21 to 26
NHL probability
80 %
of playing 200 NHL games from age 21 to 26
Expected WAR, age 21-26
4.3
the most likely outcome
NHLe
28
NHL points over 82 games, from 2025-26 (AHL, 60 games)
2026-27 projection
Projected points
34between 18 and 50 (80% range)
- Goals
- 10
- Assists
- 25
- Games
- 80
So far: 10 pts in 18 games. The team has played 18 of 84 games. Projected pace: 0.39 pts per game (last season: 0.07).
The projection follows last season's pace. Tested on 2,265 player seasons (2022-23 to 2025-26): average miss of 9 points over 82 games; for players at 0.9 points per game and up, it ran 5 points high on average.
This is only a projection. It knows nothing about injuries, trades or role changes; one player in five finishes outside the range.
Player ratings, 2025-26
All ratings →Fourteen ratings from 0 to 100 drawn from data, never by hand: 75 = established NHL player, 95+ = elite.
OV · OverallConfidence 15 %
72
Established NHL
- SK
- Skating
- 72
- Confidence 40 %
- ST
- Strength
- 81
- Confidence 18 %
- EN
- Endurance
- 64
- Confidence 0 %
- DU
- Durability
- 51
- Confidence 40 %
- CK
- Checking
- 81
- Confidence 18 %
- FG
- Fighting
- 80
- Confidence 8 %
- DI
- Discipline
- 77
- Confidence 18 %
- FO
- Faceoffs
- —
- PA
- Passing
- 72
- Confidence 15 %
- SC
- Scoring
- 69
- Confidence 15 %
- DF
- Defense
- 80
- Confidence 13 %
- PS
- Penalty shot
- 76
- Confidence 0 %
- EX
- Experience
- 27
- Confidence 100 %
Why these ratings?Hide details
SK — Skating72
- Top speed (35 %)35.8 · 71
- Bursts > 20 mph /60 (30 %)5.268 · 74
- Distance /60 (20 %)16 · 70
- Speed consistency (15 %)35.4 · 77
ST — Strength81
- Contact absorbed /60 (50 %)4.681 · 81
- Body mass (50 %)0.154 · 77
EN — Endurance64
- Ice time per game (45 %)14.4 · 71
- Total ice time (20 %)173 · 35
- Shift length (15 %)45.3 · 72
- Special-teams time per game (5 %)2.004 · 72
DU — Durability51
- Share of games played (100 %)0.62 · 51
CK — Checking81
- Hits /60 (70 %)7.213 · 83
- Season volume (10 %)3.784 · 68
FG — Fighting80
- Fights per 82 games (100 %)0.951 · 80
DI — Discipline77
- Net penalty value /60 (50 %)0.028 · 77
- Penalties taken /60 (30 %)0.615 · 77
- Penalties drawn /60 (20 %)0.777 · 76
PA — Passing72
- Primary assists /60 (40 %)0.591 · 69
- Secondary assists /60 (20 %)0.475 · 76
- Offensive creation (RAPM) (20 %)0.084 · 76
- Power-play points /60 (10 %)4.145 · 71
SC — Scoring69
- Goals /60 (25 %)0.768 · 64
- Individual xG /60 (20 %)0.858 · 74
- Finishing (goals − xG per shot) (20 %)-0.15 · 70
- High-danger chances /60 (15 %)1.27 · 72
- xG per shot (10 %)0.079 · 73
- Shot attempts /60 (10 %)15.1 · 78
DF — Defense80
- RAPM defense /60 (35 %)0.016 · 76
- Relative xG against (20 %)-0.195 · 86
- On-ice xG against /60 (15 %)2.469 · 82
- Takeaways − giveaways /60 (10 %)-1.758 · 70
- Shot attempts against /60 (5 %)57.3 · 80
- Blocked shots /60 (5 %)2.283 · 75
PS — Penalty shot76
- Shootouts (60 %)32.7 · 76
- Penalty shots (40 %)26.7 · 76
EX — Experience27
- Career regular-season games (65 %)38
- Career playoff games (25 %)0
- NHL seasons (10 %)24
OV — Overall72
- SC · Scoring (28 %)69
- PA · Passing (22 %)72
- DF · Defense (18 %)80
- SK · Skating (12 %)72
- EN · Endurance (8 %)64
- DI · Discipline (5 %)77
- ST · Strength (4 %)81
- CK · Checking (3 %)81
The bars show confidence (sample size), not player quality. — : not enough data, not a zero. Engine version 1.0.
WAR and PAL ratings, 2025-26
How we rate →PAL Rating scores performance from 0 to 100 against players at the same position (50 = average player), starting from the player's strength, offensive or defensive. Value Rating compares that performance with what the player costs: 50 means paid what the play is worth.
WAR, 2025-26
How it's calculated →Wins added to the team, compared with a replacement-level player called up from the AHL.
-0.2
wins above replacement
-0.4 to -0.1 — 90% interval
523 of 615 forwards
-1.2 goals above replacement
Full leaderboard →See full detailsHide details
- EV offense
- +0.0
- EV defense
- +0.2
- Power play
- -0.0
- Penalty kill
- 0.0
- Shooting
- -2.0
- Penalties
- +0.2
- Average → replacement
- +0.5
In goals.
Player tracking (NHL EDGE)
League EDGE leaderboards →Speed, shot power, distance covered, time by zone: measured by chips in the puck and shoulder pads. 90th percentile = better than 90% of players.
- Hardest shot
- 144.7 km/h92nd percentileleague avg. 130.1 km/h
- Top skating speed
- 35.8 km/h68th percentileleague avg. 35.2 km/h
- Bursts over 20 mph, season
- 1542nd percentileleague avg. 21
- Offensive zone time
- 44.1 %73rd percentileleague avg. 43.1 %
See full detailsHide details
- Total distance, season
- 72.5 km74th percentileleague avg. 52.2 km
- Distance, single-game high
- 4.86 km62nd percentileleague avg. 4.52 km
- Offensive zone at 5v5
- 42.7 %80th percentileleague avg. 42.4 %
- Neutral zone time
- 18.2 %58th percentileleague avg. 16.8 %
- Defensive zone time
- 37.7 %74th percentileleague avg. 40.1 %
Shooting
| Shots on goal | Goals | Shooting % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| All | 3378th percentile | 366th percentile | 9.1 %26th percentile |
| High danger | 1589th percentile | 274th percentile | 13.3 %31st percentile |
| Mid range | 656th percentile | 177th percentile | 16.7 %66th percentile |
| Long range | 695th percentile | 092nd percentile | 0.0 %87th percentile |
Shots on goal by zone
2026-2027 regular season. Measured by puck and player tracking chips; the percentile ranks the player within the league.
Game log, 2026-27
COL
VGK
TBL
FLA
STL
CHI
EDM
CGY
VAN
SEA
SJS
PHI
NJD
MTL
OTT
WPG
NYRMichael Brandsegg-Nygård: frequently asked questions
How many goals does Michael Brandsegg-Nygård have in 2026-27?
Michael Brandsegg-Nygård has 3 goals and 10 points (7 assists) in 18 games in 2026-27.
How old is Michael Brandsegg-Nygård?
Michael Brandsegg-Nygård is 21 years old: he was born on October 5, 2005.
How tall is Michael Brandsegg-Nygård, and how much does he weigh?
Michael Brandsegg-Nygård is 6'1" (185 cm) and weighs 205 lb (93 kg).
Where is Michael Brandsegg-Nygård from?
Norway: Michael Brandsegg-Nygård was born in Oslo, Norway.
What team does Michael Brandsegg-Nygård play for?
Michael Brandsegg-Nygård plays for the Detroit Red Wings in the NHL, at R, wearing number 28.
Is Michael Brandsegg-Nygård injured?
No: Michael Brandsegg-Nygård is not on the latest NHL injury report. This answer is updated throughout the season.
How good is Michael Brandsegg-Nygård?
Michael Brandsegg-Nygård produced -0.2 wins above replacement (WAR) in 2025-26, 523rd of 615 players at his position in the NHL.
How much does Michael Brandsegg-Nygård make?
Michael Brandsegg-Nygård carries a cap hit of $975K per season, on a contract worth $4.4M in total over 3 years.
When does Michael Brandsegg-Nygård's contract end?
Michael Brandsegg-Nygård's contract runs through the 2027-28 season; he will then be a restricted free agent.
Is Michael Brandsegg-Nygård a top-10 player at his position?
No: by WAR, he ranks 523rd of 615 players at his position in the NHL in 2025-26. Our comparison tool puts him side by side with any other player.
How has Michael Brandsegg-Nygård played lately?
Over his last 10 games, Michael Brandsegg-Nygård has 4 points (1 goal, 3 assists).
What are Michael Brandsegg-Nygård's career stats?
Over his NHL career, Michael Brandsegg-Nygård has 32 games, 3 goals, 8 assists and 11 points. His best season: 2026-27, with 10 points in 18 games.
Where was Michael Brandsegg-Nygård drafted?
Michael Brandsegg-Nygård was drafted 15th overall (round 1) by Detroit Red Wings in 2024.
Is Michael Brandsegg-Nygård better at home or on the road?
No real difference: in 2026-27, he averages 0.60 points per game at home (6 in 10 games) and 0.50 on the road (4 in 8 games).
How does Michael Brandsegg-Nygård perform in the playoffs?
Michael Brandsegg-Nygård has not played in the NHL playoffs yet.
Is Michael Brandsegg-Nygård a good fantasy pick?
Probably not, except in deep leagues: our projection has him at 34 points in 2026-27, or 0.43 points per game.
Is Michael Brandsegg-Nygård related to anyone famous?
Yes: Kjell Richard Nygård (father, played for Vålerenga of EliteHockey Ligaen and for Norway's national team).
What is Michael Brandsegg-Nygård's nationality?
Michael Brandsegg-Nygård is Norwegian. Internationally: Norway: senior debut at the 2022 MECA Hockey Games; won 2023 World Junior Championship Division I A (promotion); 2024 World Junior Championship — 3 goals and 5 points in 5 games (relegation); 2024 World Championship (senior) — 3 goals and 5 points in 7 games.
How many championships has Michael Brandsegg-Nygård won?
1: 2023 World Junior Championship Division I A — Norway finished first (promotion).
Where did Michael Brandsegg-Nygård play before turning pro?
Vålerenga youth system (born and raised in Oslo); Mora IK — 2022–23 season (11 HockeyAllsvenskan games, 35 in J20 Nationell)..
How many points is Michael Brandsegg-Nygård projected to score in 2026-27?
Our projection has him at 34 points in 80 games in 2026-27 (18 to 50 points, 80% interval), based on his recent seasons, age and role.
See also: his Detroit Red Wings teammates
Full roster →
NHL.com ↗ · Stats and photos: NHL (NHL.com)