NHL.com’s Mike G. Morreale posted a list of his 10 best moments from the 2024 NHL Draft, and he included the Wings’ drafting of Michael Brandsegg-Nygard of Norway on his list:
Norwegian ascent: Michael Brandsegg-Nygard became the first Norway-born player selected in the first round of an NHL Draft when the Detroit Red Wings chose him at No. 15 on Friday. He’s a right wing who played for Mora in Allsvenskan, Sweden’s second division last season.
Stian Solberg, also born in Oslo, Norway, went eight picks later to the Anaheim Ducks to cap an unforgettable opening night for Norwegian hockey. Solberg’s a defenseman with Valerenga in EliteHockey Ligaen, Norway’s top professional men’s league.
“It’s quite an accomplishment for a Norwegian player to be considered as a first-round selection, and it’s a testament to the commitment and passion of the player to find the best development path to pursue his ambition to get to the NHL,” NHL Central Scouting director Dan Marr said. “Both of these players have great futures ahead of them and will be looked up to as examples for other Norwegian players.”
There were four Norway-born players chosen over two days, including defenseman Ludvig Lafton (No. 190, Utah) of Farjestad in Sweden’s junior league and left wing Noah Steen (No. 199, Tampa Bay Lightning) of Mora.
Continued; as Brandsegg-Nygard said yesterday, he and Solberg are best friends.
