One of the biggest needs facing the Detroit Red Wings roster for the past several years has been a physical winger in their top six who is as effective with the puck on his stick as he is at grinding down the opponents who try to take it from him.

Without a doubt, Michael Brandsegg-Nygård has answered that need for Hockeytown this year. The Norwegian forward made his debut in the NHL last year, however, after going scoreless through the first month of the 2025-26 season, Detroit’s brass decided he needed some time in the AHL to polish up his skills for North American hockey.

“He had the tools that we talked about earlier, but things were happening really fast for him, both offensively and defensively. Just needed more time, marinate a little bit more and get the confidence level up and do things a little bit quicker and we’re seeing it happen now for him.” Head coach Todd McLellan said ahead of the Red Wings Nov. 5 matchup with the Vegas Golden Knights

Now, after making the opening night roster once more, Brandsegg-Nygård has made sure there’s not a snowball’s chance in hell he’s not in the Red Wings starting lineup for the next few years. He scored his first NHL goal four games into the year and has become a vital part of Detroit’s offense.

The rookie has ten points through the first 17 games of the season, tied for fifth on the team and has had four separate two point games so far. However, more impressively, Brandsegg-Nygård has been making his biggest impact on his opponents, literally.

Brandsegg-Nygård hitting the right spots

The 6-foot-1, 205lb forward has 75 hits in 17 games, which is in the top five in the league amongst all skaters.

That projects out to 375 in an 84 game season according to ProHockeyReference, eclipsing Cal Clutterbuck’s rookie record set in 2009 with 356 hits against the Minnesota Wild’s opponents.

“Hopefully if I get them pretty hard, they recognize me for the next time I’m getting to them. So maybe they throw away a puck or 2.” Brandsegg-Nygard told the media after the Red Wings victory over the Chicago Blackhawks on Oct. 29.

McLellan is establishing a new identity in Detroit, and Brandsegg-Nygård has been bullying the Red Wings’ opponents into taking notice. Getting that kind of buy-in and commitment from one of your younger players on-ice isn’t always a guarantee, but over and over again, the rookie forward has proved that he and the rest of the Red Wings young core are going to set a new tone in Hockeytown.

“We’ve talked a lot about not losing your guy, and sometimes it’s easier to just crash into him so you know where he is versus just staying away and letting him go through.” Brandsegg-Nygård said in a recent interview with DetroitRedWings.com

The right match

That’s certainly an attitude that will be useful going into the team’s next game against Nathan MacKinnon and the Colorado Avalanche, who find themselves joining Detroit on a two game losing streak heading into the matchup. That’s plenty of motivation for last year’s Rocket Richard Trophy winner to turn up the pressure on Detroit’s defense.

“Like we talk about Brandsegg-Nygård being a bully. [MacKinnon]is a bully that scores 50. Maybe Brands will get there one day, but this is a bully that scores 50 and he can flat out fly.” McLellan said.

The Red Wings coach saw it up close and personal in MacKinnon’s younger days during the 2016 World Cup of Hockey when he coached “The Young Guns” of Team North America.

Still, not a bad comparison to draw from a coach who used to give Connor McDavid tips as he started out in the NHL.