Fifth-Ranked International Skater Becomes First Norwegian-Born Player to be Selected in the First Round of an NHL Draft

The Detroit Red Wings today selected forward Michael Brandsegg-Nygård in the first round (15th overall) of the 2024 NHL Entry Draft at Sphere in Las Vegas.

Brandsegg-Nygård spent the majority of the 2023-24 season with Mora IK in Sweden’s second-highest professional league, recording 18 points (8-10-18), a plus-three rating and 19 penalty minutes in 41 regular-season games. The 6-foot-1, 207-pound forward also collected 10 points (4-6-10) and eight penalty minutes in 12 postseason contests, helping Mora IK reach the Semifinals for the second consecutive season. Additionally, Brandsegg-Nygård logged 12 points (5-7-12), a plus-nine rating and 10 penalty minutes in seven games with Mora IK’s under-20 team in Sweden’s top junior league. A native of Oslo, Norway, Brandsegg-Nygård is the first Norwegian-born player to be selected in the first round of an NHL Entry Draft.

Brandsegg-Nygård debuted with Mora IK in 2022-23, logging three points (1-2-3), a plus-three rating and six penalty minutes in 11 games, along with 38 points (17-21-38) in 35 games at the under-20 level and 10 points (5-5-10) in four games with the under-18 squad. Prior to arriving in Sweden, Brandsegg-Nygård made his professional debut as a 16-year-old with Vålerenga in the EliteHockey Ligaen, skating in eight games in Norway’s top professional league during the 2021-22 campaign. He also collected 42 points (24-18-42) in 25 games with Vålerenga’s under-20 squad and 19 points (10-9-19) in seven games at the under-18 level in 2021-22. Brandsegg-Nygård paced Norway’s under-18 circuit with 16 goals in eight games in 2020-21.

On the international stage, Brandsegg-Nygård played for Norway at the 2024 IIHF World Championship, recording five points (3-2-5) in seven games en route to being named one of his country’s top three performers. He also represented Norway at the 2024 IIHF World Junior Championship, logging five points (3-2-5) in five games. Brandsegg-Nygård won a gold medal at the 2023 IIHF World Junior Championship Division I, collecting five points (2-3-5) in five games, and also captured a silver medal at the 2022 IIHF World Under-18 Championship Division I with four points (2-2-4) in five appearances.

Detroit currently has seven selections for the second day of the 2024 Entry Draft: one in the second round (47th overall), one in the third round (80th), one in the fourth round (126th), one in the fifth round (144th), one in the sixth round (176th) and two in the seventh round (203rd and 208th).

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Detroit Trades Second-Round Pick in 2024 NHL Entry Draft and Defenseman Jake Walman to San Jose Sharks in Exchange for Future Considerations

The Detroit Red Wings today acquired the Tampa Bay Lightning’s second-round pick in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft and forward Jesse Kiiskinen from the Nashville Predators in exchange for defenseman Andrew Gibson. The Red Wings subsequently traded Tampa Bay’s second-round pick in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft and defenseman Jake Walman to the San Jose Sharks in exchange for future considerations.

Kiiskinen, 18, spent the majority of the 2023-24 season with the Lahti Pelicans in Finland’s highest professional league, recording 10 points (4-6-10) and eight penalty minutes in 38 regular-season games. The 6-foot-2, 197-pound forward played in six postseason contests with the Pelicans, helping the team reach the championship round for the second consecutive season. Additionally, Kiiskinen tallied one goal in six Champions Hockey League games with the Pelicans. He also spent time with the Pelicans’ under-20 squad in 2023-24, logging 21 points (14-7-21), a plus-13 rating and six penalty minutes in eight regular-season games, in addition to three assists in three playoff matchups in Finland’s top junior league.

Originally selected by Nashville in the third round (68th overall) of the 2023 NHL Entry Draft, Kiiskinen made his professional debut with the Pelicans in 2022-23, tallying one assist, a plus-two rating and two penalty minutes in seven games. He also skated in one game with Peliitat Heinola in Finland’s second-highest professional league during the 2022-23 campaign. Kiiskinen accumulated 43 points (20-23-43), a plus-12 rating and eight penalty minutes in 31 games with the Pelicans’ under-20 squad in 2022-23, along with two points (1-1-2) in one game at the under-18 level. In total, Kiiskinen has compiled 89 points (47-42-89) in 79 games with the Pelicans’ under-20 team, 38 points (19-19-38) in 31 games with the under-18 squad and 30 points (15-15-30) in 28 games at the under-16 level. On the international stage, the Hollola, Finland, native competed at the 2023 IIHF World Under-18 Championship, recording five points (3-2-5) in five games en route to being named one of his country’s top three performers. He also won a bronze medal at the 2022 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, collecting four points (2-2-4) in five appearances.

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Two-Time Stanley Cup Champion Scored 918 Points in 953 Games with Red Wings From 2001-16

Mike Gartner, Chair of the Hockey Hall of Fame Selection Committee today announced that former Detroit Red Wings forward Pavel Datsyuk has been elected to Hockey Hall of Fame Honored Membership in the Player Category.

Datsyuk, who was elected in his first year of eligibility, played 14 seasons with the Red Wings from 2001-16 and ranks among the franchise’s all-time leaders with 953 games played (T9th), 314 goals (8th), 604 assists (6th), 918 points (7th), a plus-249 rating (3rd), 97 power play goals (9th), 330 power play points (6th), eight overtime goals (5th), 51 game-winning goals (8th) and 2,244 shots (9th). The 45-year-old won or tied for Detroit’s scoring lead in six consecutive seasons (2003-04 to 2009-10), including back-to-back 97-point campaigns in 2007-08 and 2008-09. Datsyuk was honored as one of the NHL’s 100 Greatest Players as part of the league’s centennial celebration in 2017.

“I would like to congratulate Pavel on his induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame,” said Red Wings Governor and CEO Christopher Ilitch. “Pavel was one of the most talented players in league history and had Red Wings fans around the world on the edge of their seats every time he touched the puck. Throughout his career, he was consistently recognized for his stellar defensive play, a testament to how great of an all-around talent he truly was. The ‘Magic Man’ created so many incredible memories for our fans and played an integral part in bringing two Stanley Cup championships to the city of Detroit. Congratulations again, Pavel, on this tremendous achievement.”

Datsyuk helped the Red Wings clinch 14 consecutive Stanley Cup playoff berths and ranks among the team’s all-time postseason leaders with 157 games played (8th), 42 goals (T8th), 71 assists (5th), 113 points (6th), a plus-34 rating (4th), 15 power play goals (T6th), 38 power play points (T7th), seven game-winning goals (T10th) and 424 shots (5th). He was a member of Detroit’s Stanley Cup-winning team as a rookie in 2002, collecting six points (3-3-6) in 21 postseason contests. Datsyuk also guided the Red Wings to a Stanley Cup championship in 2008, recording 23 points (10-13-23) in 22 playoff matchups, including a hat trick in Game 3 of the 2008 Western Conference Final against the Dallas Stars.

Selected by the Red Wings in the sixth round (171st overall) of the 1998 NHL Entry Draft, Datsyuk made his NHL debut in 2001-02 and played in the 2002 NHL YoungStars Game. He was named to the NHL’s Second All-Star Team in 2008-09 after recording 97 points (32-65-97), a plus-34 rating and 22 penalty minutes in 81 games. Datsyuk was selected to four NHL All-Star Games (2004, 2008, 2009, 2012), though he did not participate in the 2009 edition due to injury. Datsyuk was named the recipient of the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy four consecutive times from 2005-06 to 2008-09, presented annually “to the player adjudged to have exhibited the best type of sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct combined with a high standard of playing ability.” He also earned the Frank J. Selke Trophy as the NHL’s top defensive forward in three successive seasons from 2007-08 to 2009-10. Additionally, Datsyuk won the NHL Plus-Minus Award in 2007-08 after leading all skaters with a plus-41 rating.

“Congratulations to Pavel on this extremely well-deserved honor,” said Red Wings Executive Vice President and General Manager Steve Yzerman. “Pavel’s world-class skills made him one of the best one-on-one players of all time, but his high-end compete and work ethic separated him from his peers. He was a dynamic force who excelled at both ends of the ice and in all situations. He was an exceptional player and will rightfully take his place amongst the game’s greats in November.”

A native of Yekaterinburg, Russia, Datsyuk is also a member of the exclusive Triple Gold Club, winning a gold medal representing his country at the 2012 IIHF World Championship in Helsinki, Finland and Stockholm, Sweden, before captaining the Olympic Athletes from Russia to a gold medal at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea. Datsyuk also captured a silver medal at the 2010 IIHF World Championship and was named the tournament’s best forward after logging seven points (6-1-7) in six games. On the international stage, Datsyuk competed in five Winter Olympics (2002, 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018), seven IIHF World Championships (2001, 2003, 2005, 2010, 2012, 2016, 2018) and two World Cup of Hockey events (2004, 2016). Induction Weekend festivities will run from Friday, Nov. 8 through Sunday, Nov. 10 culminating with the Induction Celebration on Monday, Nov. 11 in Toronto, Ont.

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Eight-Game Slate Features Home Games with Chicago, Pittsburgh, Toronto and Ottawa

The Detroit Red Wings today announced their 2024-25 preseason schedule.

The Red Wings will take to the ice for the first time in 2024-25 with a home-and-home set against the Chicago Blackhawks – traveling to Chicago on Wednesday, Sept. 25 for an 8:00 p.m. game before hosting the Blackhawks at Little Caesars Arena on Friday, Sept. 27 at 7:00 p.m. The Red Wings will host the Pittsburgh Penguins at Little Caesars Arena on Saturday, Sept. 28 at 7:00 p.m. prior to road tilts against the Buffalo Sabres on Monday, Sept. 30 at 7:00 p.m. and the Penguins on Tuesday, Oct. 1 at 7:00 p.m.

The Red Wings will wrap-up the preseason with three games in three nights, including back-to-back home games against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Thursday, Oct. 3 at 7:00 p.m. and the Ottawa Senators on Friday, Oct. 4 at 7:00 p.m. Detroit will conclude its eight-game preseason schedule with a road game in Toronto on Saturday, Oct. 5 at 7:00 p.m.

Ticket on-sale information for the preseason and regular season will be announced at a later date.

The 2024-25 preseason schedule to date can be found above.

Place a deposit or purchase 10-game plan for upcoming 2024-25 season

The Detroit Red Wings today announced the introduction of a Winged Wheel Nation season ticket waitlist for the 2025-26 season to meet the demand for tickets by the Hockeytown faithful. Fans will have the opportunity to join the Winged Wheel Nation waitlist by placing a deposit or move to the top of the waitlist by purchasing a 10-game plan for the upcoming 2024-25 season. For details visit DetroitRedWings.com/WingedWheelNation.  

“To best serve the high demand created by Red Wings fans for season tickets we have established a Winged Wheel Nation membership waitlist for the 2025-26 season,” said Ryan Gustafson, President and CEO, Ilitch Sports + Entertainment. “Fans have two options to consider in joining the waitlist: either place a deposit starting at $50, which can be applied toward their membership, or purchase a 10-game plan for the 2024-25 season to secure future season tickets.”

Waitlist members for the 2025-26 Red Wings season will also receive first access to purchase individual game tickets for the upcoming 2024-25 campaign before they go on sale to the public, along with exclusive offers throughout the season.

Benefits for Winged Wheel Nation members include:

• First access to purchase single-game tickets and other offers throughout the season
• Invites to WWN Member Events (Limited availability)
• Priority for Red Wings Stanley Cup playoffs tickets
• Presales on 313 concerts
• Presales to Tigers games at Comerica Park
• Waitlist Newsletter to include special discounts

The waitlist is for Winged Wheel Nation Memberships only. A 10-game plan does not include the same benefits as a WWN member.

Individual game tickets and 10-game plans will go on sale only after the announcement of the 2024-25 National Hockey League schedule and are the only remaining ways to purchase tickets to the upcoming Red Wings season at Little Caesars Arena. Group tickets and premium rentals are also available for purchase.

Information on fan giveaway items and special events for the 2024-25 Red Wings season will be announced in the coming days and weeks. Fans are encouraged to follow @DetroitRedWings on social media and to visit DetroitRedWings.com for specific details.

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Family-friendly festival will be hosted outside and inside Little Caesars Arena from 6-10 p.m., with events and activities available for fans of all ages

On the evening of the first round of the 2024 NHL Entry Draft on Friday, June 28, Hockeytown will be the place to be as the Detroit Red Wings host the “Sticks & Picks” Festival, presented by Bud Light. The family-friendly event will be held outside Little Caesars Arena in the plaza areas, and inside the venue in the seating bowl.

The festival will run from 6-10 p.m., and tickets are just $5, with children ages 2 and under receiving free admission. Parking will be available for $10 in the UWM, Trinity Health and Temple West garages surrounding Little Caesars Arena and can be purchased in advance at ParkWhiz.com. ESPN’s live broadcast will begin at 7 p.m., with the Red Wings currently slated to pick 15th in the first round.

Tickets to the Sticks & Picks Festival can be purchased here, or at the XFINITY Box Office at Little Caesars Arena the day of the event until 8 p.m. For more information visit DetroitRedWings.com/SticksAndPicks.

Fans can enjoy live music and entertainment outside the arena and watch the entirety of the NHL Draft on the center hung videoboard in the lower level of the seating bowl.

Similar to recent draft parties, the Chevrolet Plaza will feature tailgate games, fan giveaways, artists and face painters, concessions, a variety of food trucks and Instagram photo opportunities, including a 360-Degree Camera. The Detroit Red Wings Foundation will host a Tent Sale in the Chevrolet Plaza, and Nütrl Vodka Seltzer sampling will be available for fans ages 21 and over.

Interested fans can play street hockey in one of two rinks on Henry Street on the southwest side of Little Caesars Arena. Former Red Wings players will sign autographs in the plaza areas.  

Inside the arena, fans can enjoy Red Wings and Detroit Tigers co-branded giveaways, additional autograph opportunities with Red Wings alumni, a selfie station, LED mini golf, and Coca-Cola sampling. ESPN’s broadcast will be shown on the center hung videoboard – with sound – and will be lowered for prime viewing. Interviews with special guests and Draft analysis will take place during ESPN’s commercial breaks.

Select concessions will be available for purchase inside Little Caesars Arena, and Mike’s Pizza Bar and Detroit House will be open. The Team Store will also be open for attendees, with clearance items available featuring 50-75 percent discounts. Winged Wheel Nation members will receive an additional 10 percent off.

From www.nhl.com/redwings

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The Detroit Red Wings today signed defenseman Albert Johansson to a one-year, two-way contract extension.

Johansson, 23, spent the entire 2023-24 season with the American Hockey League’s Grand Rapids Griffins, recording 21 points (6-15-21), a plus-seven rating and 46 penalty minutes in 66 games. The 6-foot, 185-pound defenseman also collected three assists and eight penalty minutes in nine postseason contests, helping the Griffins reach the Central Division Finals. Johansson made his North American professional debut with the Griffins in 2022-23, notching 15 points (5-10-15) and 38 penalty minutes in 53 games. Selected by the Red Wings in the second round (60th overall) of the 2019 NHL Entry Draft, Johansson has registered 36 points (11-25-36) and 84 penalty minutes in 119 AHL games with the Griffins.

A native of Karlstad, Sweden, Johansson spent parts of four seasons with Färjestad BK in the Swedish Hockey League from 2018-22, racking up 57 points (15-42-57), a plus-10 rating and 44 penalty minutes in 141 games in Sweden’s top professional league. He also helped Färjestad BK win a SHL championship in 2022, tallying eight points (2-6-8) in 19 postseason matchups. Johansson also logged 38 points (9-29-38) and 79 penalty minutes in 58 games with Färjestad’s under-20 team, in addition to 36 points (14-22-36) and 14 penalty minutes in 50 games with the under-18 team, and 26 points (11-15-26) and 82 penalty minutes in 56 games at the under-16 level. On the international stage, Johansson represented Sweden at the 2021 IIHF World Junior Championship along with Lucas Raymond and Elmer Söderblom, recording three assists in five games. Johansson captured a gold medal at the 2019 IIHF World Under-18 Championship, tallying one assist in seven games. He also earned a silver medal with Sweden at the 2018 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, recording two penalty minutes in five appearances.

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Little Caesars, a global leader in the pizza industry, is proud to announce the promotion of three exceptional executives to key leadership positions within the company’s technology division. These promotions come at a time of tremendous growth for Little Caesars, underscoring the company’s commitment to leveraging cutting-edge innovation to drive future success and enhance the guest experience. These promotions will also continue to elevate technology at the entire Ilitch Companies family of businesses, including Ilitch Sports + Entertainment.

Keith Faigin Promoted to Chief Information Officer, Restaurant Systems

Keith Faigin, who recently celebrated his 10-year anniversary at Little Caesars, has been promoted to Chief Information Officer, Restaurant Systems. Throughout his tenure, Keith has overseen numerous software initiatives, with a significant focus on the company’s e-commerce platform. He has been instrumental in securing multiple patents for Little Caesars and holds a bachelor’s degree from Williams College and a master’s in computer science from the University of Illinois. In addition to his professional accomplishments, Keith is a resident cast member of Go Comedy! Improv Theater and a founder of the Detroit Improv Festival.

Afia Phillips Promoted to Chief Information Security Officer

Afia Phillips has been promoted to Chief Information Security Officer (CISO). Afia has been serving as the Vice President of Information Security at Little Caesar Enterprises, overseeing information security across all Ilitch companies. Afia has established a strategic enterprise information security program that focuses on mitigating cyber risk across the organization. She is passionate about social responsibility and has led key initiatives pertaining to food insecurity, volunteerism, diversity, equity and inclusion. Afia is an active member of the Michigan Council of Women in Technology, T200, and Chief, a selective nationwide network of female executives. She is a governing body member of the Evanta CIO & CISO Network (Detroit Chapter) and was appointed to the State of Michigan’s Board of Ethics by Governor Gretchen Whitmer. Her achievements have been recognized with a Crain’s Notable Women in STEM honor and a Top Global CISO Award from Cyber Defense Magazine. Afia holds a degree in computer science from Wayne State University and has certifications in cybersecurity and risk management.

Lance Shinabarger Promoted to Chief Information Officer, Shared Technologies and Applications

Lance Shinabarger has been promoted to Chief Information Officer, Shared Technologies and Applications. With over 25 years of IT management experience, Lance has been with Little Caesars since 2017 as Senior Vice President of Enterprise Systems, Data Services, and Global Infrastructure. He has successfully led the global infrastructure for Little Caesars, Detroit Red Wings, Detroit Tigers, and other Ilitch companies. Lance holds a degree in Computer Science from Cleary University and has a proven track record of developing and executing technology strategies that drive business growth.

“These promotions highlight the incredible talent and dedication of our leadership team,” said Anita Klopfenstein, Global Chief Information Officer. “Keith, Afia, and Lance have consistently demonstrated their commitment to innovation and excellence through their strong leadership. We are confident that they will continue to drive our technology initiatives forward.”

As Little Caesars continues to grow and innovate, the company remains focused on its mission to provide exceptional value, convenience and quality to customers through pioneering technology and forward-thinking strategies. These leadership changes are a testament to the company’s dedication to staying at the forefront of the industry and preparing for an even brighter future of continued aggressive growth.

About Little Caesars®
Headquartered in Detroit, Michigan, Little Caesars was founded by Mike and Marian Ilitch in 1959 as a single, family-owned restaurant. Today, it is the third-largest pizza chain in the world, with restaurants in each of the 50 U.S. states and 28 countries and territories.

Known for its HOT-N-READY® pizza and famed Crazy Bread®, Little Caesars uses quality ingredients, like fresh, never frozen mozzarella and Muenster cheese and sauce made from fresh-packed, vine-ripened California crushed tomatoes. The brand is known for innovation and is home of the exclusive Pizza Portal® pickup, a heated, self-service mobile order pickup station. Little Caesars is also the Official Pizza Sponsor of the National Football League.

An exceptionally high-growth company with over 60 years of experience in the $145 billion worldwide pizza industry, Little Caesars is continually looking for franchisee candidates to join the team in markets around the world. In addition to providing the opportunity for entrepreneurial independence in a franchise system, Little Caesars offers strong brand awareness with one of the most recognized and appealing characters in the country, Little Caesar.  Little Caesars is proud to be part of the Ilitch Companies family of businesses.  

About Ilitch Companies
Ilitch Companies represents leading brands in the food, sports and entertainment industries, including Little Caesars, Blue Line Distribution, the Detroit Red Wings, Ilitch Sports + Entertainment, the Detroit Tigers, Olympia Development, Little Caesars Fundraising Program, Champion Foods, MotorCity Casino Hotel, Ocean Casino and Tenda. The organization also has a joint venture interest in 313 Presents.

The companies collectively employ tens of thousands of people across the world, have 400+ million customer interactions annually and generate billions of dollars each year.

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Anchored by the Detroit Tigers annual Pride Night celebration on June 11, Ilitch Companies are commemorating Pride Month throughout June with a series of activities for fans and colleagues.

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Pride Night at Comerica Park began with a reception honoring this year’s Game Changers honorees for Pride Month. The Game Changers program, presented by Comerica Bank, celebrates individuals who have made a significant impact on local families, businesses and communities. Each honoree receives a $1,000 donation to the charity of their choice, allowing them to further their philanthropic efforts and continue making a difference.

This year’s honorees are:

Reid Beyerlein – Co-Founder, Ties Like Me!

Ties Like Me! was created for the professional gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community to network, creating an environment to meet new friends, engage in casual conversation and build strong business ties. Beyerlein is also a past President and Board member for Metro Detroit Youth Clubs.

Jay Kaplan – LGBTQ+ Rights Project Staff Attorney, ACLU of Michigan

Kaplan has worked on cases including challenging undercover sting operations targeting gay men, fighting Michigan’s constitutional amendment prohibiting same-sex couples from marrying, defending the validity of second parent adoptions granted in Michigan and civil rights protections for LGBTQ+ employees.

Brandon Shamoun – Vice Chair, Michigan LGBTQ+ Commission / Commissioner, Stonewall Sports Detroit

Shamoun is currently the Assistant Dean of Students for Student Involvement, Activities and Organizations at Wayne State University. Additionally, he is the co-chair of the Queer Employee Engagement Group (QWSU) at WSU. He also serves as the Commissioner and President of Stonewall Sports Detroit, a local non-profit chapter to increase awareness of the LGBTQ+ community through sporting leagues.

Emme Zanotti – Director of Advocacy and Civic Engagement, Equality Michigan

At Equality Michigan, Michigan’s statewide LGBTQ+ advocacy organization, Zanotti ensures the LGBTQ+ community is engaged in elections and in the policy work that will impact their lives and wellbeing.

“There’s a lot of trailblazers, the activists and the artists, what I call unsung heroes every day that go out and have changed the world to make events like this happen so that we can wear rainbow colors with pride in June every single day and not have an issue,” said Beyerlein.

In addition to celebrating the Game Changers during the Tigers’ game against the Washington Nationals, Pride Night featured a pre-game Street Fair on Columbia Street with information booths, giveaways, food, shopping and music from a local DJ.

Throughout the month of June, colleagues at the Ilitch Companies’ family of businesses also had the opportunity to attend panel discussions and lunch-and-learns as well as play Pride Jeopardy.

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