As a couple of late-night addendums to the news that the Red Wings drafted Michael Brandsegg-Nygard 15th overall in the 1st round of the 2024 NHL Draft:
Detroit Hockey Now’s Kevin Allen posted a profile of Brandsegg-Nygard in which he notes that the young man is highly-heralded by scouts:
Scouts like Brandsegg Nygard’s shot and his speed. He had 18 points playing for Mora in the Swedish second division. Next season, he will play in the Swedish Hockey League for Skelleftea where last year’s first round pick, Axel Sandin Pellikka plays.
Brandsegg Nygard also likes to play a physical game. The Red Wings are hunting for players who blend skill with a physical presence. This is the culture the Red Wings would like to develop.
“I feel like I’m pretty good to get in the defenseman’s body and push him away,” he said. “Bump him so that somewhere in the offensive zone, I can get the puck and shoot. And then the forecheck, too. I feel like I’m built to be quick up on the defenseman and him them and take the puck back so we try to stay in the offensive zone. I feel like I’m comfortable to try to protect the puck as well. ”
Former NHL general manager and scout Craig Button, now a TSN analyst, compares him to Zach Hyman.
“Not the 53 goal scorer Zach Hyman,” Button said. “But the 25 goal scorer that he was. Dog on a bone. He can play with good players and help them. He’s a really good penalty killer, good defensively.”
While Bob Duff spoke with GM Steve Yzerman about Brandsegg-Nygard’s qualities:
Assessing what he likes about Brandsegg-Nygard, Yzerman paused to take a breath.
“A lot,” he finally answered. “Big, strong young man. Physically developed. Can really shoot the puck. Thought he was a really good two-way player. Kind of a goal-scoring winger that obviously fills a void in our prospect pool.”
Big, powerful, punishing forwards wearing the winged wheel on their chest have proven to be as elusive as playoff games in these parts.
It wasn’t just his snarl that made the Red Wings decision to be sizing up Brandsegg-Nygard as the player they would want with the 15th overall pick of the draft.
“We want to have competitive hockey players that can think the game,” Red Wings assistant GM and director of amateur scouting Kris Draper said. “We think he brings a physical presence. Certainly doesn’t back down of getting in the corners, getting in on the forecheck, finishing checks, gets around the hard areas.”
