Michael Brandsegg-Nygård (born October 5, 2005) is a Norwegian professional ice hockey forward for Skellefteå AIK of the Swedish Hockey League (SHL), as a prospect for the Detroit Red Wings of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was drafted 15th overall by the Red Wings in the 2024 NHL entry draft, becoming the first Norwegian ever selected in the first round.
| Michael Brandsegg-Nygård | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Born |
October 5, 2005 Oslo, Norway | ||
| Height | 6 ft 1 in (185 cm) | ||
| Weight | 198 lb (90 kg; 14 st 2 lb) | ||
| Position | Right wing | ||
| Shoots | Right | ||
| NHL team (P) Cur. team Former teams |
Detroit Red Wings Skellefteå AIK (SHL) Vålerenga Ishockey | ||
| National team |
 Norway | ||
| NHL draft |
15th overall, 2024 Detroit Red Wings | ||
Playing career
editBrandsegg-Nygård made his senior professional debut for Vålerenga Ishockey of Norway's EliteHockey Ligaen (EHL) as a 16 year old, appearing in eight EHL games in addition to playing at the under-20 level. He was offered a spot in the system of Swedish club Mora IK midway through the year, but chose to remain in Norway until the season ended.[1]
Turning down an offer of a full time EHL role with Vålerenga,[1] Brandsegg-Nygård joined Mora for the 2022–23 season, appearing in 11 games in the second-tier HockeyAllsvenskan and 35 in the J20 Nationell.[2] He made his Allsvenskan debut a week after turning 17, on October 12, 2022,[3] and scored his first goal in the league against Tingsryds AIF on November 7, 2022.[1]
In his draft-eligible season, Brandsegg-Nygård once again split time between the professional and junior levels, recording eight goals and ten assists in 41 Allsvenskan games.[4] His shot, hockey IQ, and mature game were among the features lauded by scouts, who projected him as a first round pick and possibly "the best prospect Norway has ever produced."[2][5]
On May 17, 2024, Swedish Hockey League (SHL) club Skellefteå AIK announced that they had signed Brandsegg-Nygård to a one-year contract.[6] On June 28, 2024, at the 2024 NHL entry draft, he was selected 15th overall by the Detroit Red Wings, becoming the first Norwegian player selected in the first round.[7] Two weeks later, on July 11, he signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Red Wings.[8]
International play
edit| Medal record | ||
|---|---|---|
| Representing Norway
| ||
| Men's ice hockey | ||
| World U18 Championship | ||
 |
2022 Slovakia | Division I Group A |
| World Junior Championship | ||
 |
2023 Norway | Division I Group A |
Brandsegg-Nygård made his senior international debut at the 2022 MECA Hockey Games, appearing against Latvia and Denmark as a 17 year old.[9][10]
At Division IA of the 2023 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships, Brandsegg-Nygård and the Norwegian team finished in first, earning promotion to the top division for the first time in nearly ten years.[11]
Returning to Team Norway for the 2024 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships, he had three goals and five points in five games, with an average of 17:22 of time on ice.[12] In the relegation match against Germany, Norway lost 5–4 in overtime to be sent back to Division IA.[13]
In his senior-level tournament debut at the 2024 IIHF World Championship, Brandsegg-Nygård was the third youngest player, behind teammate Stian Solberg and Finnish forward Konsta Helenius.[14] He would finish the tournament with three goals and five points in seven games, with each of his goals coming off assists from Mats Zuccarello.[15]
Personal life
editBrandsegg-Nygård is the son of Kjell Richard Nygård, who played over 450 games for Vålerenga in the top level Norwegian EliteHockey Ligaen and made many appearances with the Norwegian national team.[16][17]
Career statistics
editRegular season and playoffs
edit| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
| 2020–21 | Vålerenga | NOR U21 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2021–22 | Vålerenga | NOR | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2021–22 | Vålerenga | NOR U20 | 25 | 24 | 18 | 42 | 20 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 4 | ||
| 2022–23 | Mora IK | Allsv | 11 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 6 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2022–23 | Mora IK | J20 | 35 | 17 | 21 | 38 | 28 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2023–24 | Mora IK | Allsv | 41 | 8 | 10 | 18 | 19 | 12 | 4 | 6 | 10 | 8 | ||
| 2023–24 | Mora IK | J20 | 7 | 5 | 7 | 12 | 10 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| Allsvenskan totals | 52 | 9 | 12 | 21 | 25 | 12 | 4 | 6 | 10 | 8 | ||||
International
edit| Year | Team | Event | Result | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Norway | U18 (Div IA) | 
|
5 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 4 | |
| 2023 | Norway | WJC (Div IA) | 
|
5 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 10 | |
| 2024 | Norway | WJC | 10th | 5 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 0 | |
| 2024 | Norway | WC | 11th | 7 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 2 | |
| Junior totals | 15 | 7 | 7 | 14 | 14 | ||||
| Senior totals | 7 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 2 | ||||
References
edit- ^ a b c Jansson, Martin (December 4, 2022). "Michael Brandsegg-Nygård om succén: "Blivit överraskad själv"". hockeysverige.se (in Swedish). Hockeysveirge. Retrieved February 29, 2024.
- ^ a b Maciag, Joe (December 11, 2023). "2024 NHL Draft Player Profile: Michael Brandsegg-Nygård". recruitscouting.com. Recruit Scouting. Retrieved January 11, 2024.
- ^ Bakkehaug, Wegard (October 16, 2022). "Michael (17) debuterte for Mora: - Egentlig litt overrasket". nitten.no (in Norwegian). Retrieved February 29, 2024.
- ^ Fischer, John (May 10, 2024). "Michael Brandsegg-Nygård: 2024 NHL Draft Prospect Profile; Norway's Finest Prospect". allaboutthejersey.com. SBNation. Retrieved May 10, 2024.
- ^ Alanen, Lassi (August 20, 2023). "Future Vision: Michael Brandsegg-Nygård and the makings of a modern power forward". eprinkside.com. Elite Prospects. Retrieved January 11, 2024.
- ^ "Varmt välkommen, Michael Brandsegg-Nygård!" (in Swedish). Skellefteå AIK. May 17, 2024. Retrieved May 18, 2024.
- ^ Shapiro, Sean (June 29, 2024). "Norwegian history made as Stian Solberg and Michael Brandsegg-Nygård go in first round of 2024 NHL Draft". EP Rinkside. Retrieved July 1, 2024.
- ^ Roth, Thomas (July 11, 2024). "Red Wings sign Michael Brandsegg-Nygård to three-year, entry-level contract". NHL.com. Retrieved July 12, 2024.
- ^ "Fremtidens A-landslagsspillere får sjansen i Trondheim". hockey.no (in Norwegian). October 28, 2022. Retrieved February 29, 2024.
- ^ "Michael Brandsegg-Nygård". hockey.no. Retrieved February 29, 2024.
- ^ Ellis, Steven (December 13, 2023). "2024 World Junior Championship Preview: Team Norway". dailyfaceoff.com. Daily Faceoff. Retrieved January 11, 2024.
- ^ Morreale, Mike G. (January 5, 2024). "2024 World Junior Championship: 10 things learned". NHL.com. National Hockey League. Retrieved January 11, 2024.
- ^ Kardaman, Katelyn (January 5, 2024). "Ostlund, Wahlberg win silver at World Juniors; Kulich takes home bronze". NHL.com. Buffalo Sabres. Retrieved January 11, 2024.
- ^ Vickers, Aaron (May 21, 2024). "Brandsegg-Nygard getting valuable reps for Norway at World Championship". National Hockey League. Retrieved May 27, 2024.
- ^ Loucks, Dylan (May 22, 2024). "Mats Zuccarello, Norway Eliminated from IIHF World Championships". The Hockey News. Retrieved May 27, 2024.
- ^ Boger, Christian (November 14, 2022). "Vålerenga-gutten Michael (17) med hockeysukess i Sverige. - Det har gått mye raskere enn jeg drømte om". vartoslo.no. Vårt Oslo. Retrieved February 29, 2024.
- ^ "Kjell Richard Nygaard". eliteprospects.com. Retrieved February 29, 2024.
External links
edit- Biographical information and career statistics from NHL.com, or Eliteprospects.com, or The Internet Hockey Database