NHL draft prospect Michael Brandsegg-Nygard explained to teams how he's more than a defensive forward. Based on his play in the second half of the season, he's right.

The NHL draft is an imperfect science that forces teams to try and balance high-end upside and certainty of playing in the NHL. 

Beyond the very top end of any draft, it’s always hard to find a player who checks off both boxes. 

The most interesting player in the 2024 NHL draft class in that regard is Norwegian winger Michael Brandsegg-Nygard, who plays for Mora in Sweden's second level.

His progression didn't stand out on the scoresheet as much as that of Beckett Sennecke, who tore up the OHL in the second half, but Brandsegg-Nygard took major strides after the World Junior Championship, building on his already refined defensive game.

“Coming back to Mora (after the WJC), I was just more comfortable offensively,” Brandsegg-Nygard said to The Hockey News. “My coaches here wanted me to play responsible defense or I wasn’t going to play, but joining Norway and being able to do both, it helped me continue doing that after the world juniors.”

After finding the scoresheet just six times in the first 22 games of his season in the Allsvenskan before the World Junior Championship, Brandsegg-Nygard doubled that production in the final 19 games of the regular season and then followed that up with 10 points in 12 games for Mora in the post-season.

His physicality is a major asset. Whether it’s establishing body position on the boards, lowering his shoulder to power to the net or lowering the boom in open ice, Brandsegg-Nygard is a force to be reckoned with. Learning to bring that physical element to the forefront while playing against men was a process, but it played out in front of the Mora coaching staff’s eyes.

In fact, Brandsegg-Nygard was one of Mora's best players at attacking the inside lanes with and without the puck. Early in the year, the 6-foot-1, 207-pound player was constantly going to the slot and getting to the net, but his team was often focused on getting shots on the net, often from the outside.

As the season progressed and Brandsegg-Nygard became more comfortable in a leading role, the team’s attack focused more toward the middle of the ice. Brandsegg-Nygard deferred to his linemates less and took advantage of his shooting talent and intelligence.

“I had to earn my coach's trust,” said Brandsegg-Nygard. “When you play with the men’s team, if you’re not focused on puck management, you have to deal with a counterattack and scoring chances from the other team. That’s what I would like to be doing, counter-punching against them.”

The 18-year-old earned more trust as the post-season arrived, and it paid off when he scored the overtime-winner in a tight series against Djurgarden.

“Scoring a big goal and feeling the energy from the crowd was amazing,” said Brandsegg-Nygard. “It was a playoff game between two teams who really didn’t like each other. It felt like a moment where I was able to really show the player I want to be.”

One thing the young Norwegian forward wanted to stress to NHL clubs at the recent NHL combine was that he isn’t just a defensive player. He mentioned his goal was to prove that he can be an offensive asset, and the details and defensive acumen are just part of the package that makes him worthy of a high draft pick.

Every team he spoke with or sat down with for dinner wanted to know what his offensive strengths are in his eyes.

“I’m a guy who really tries to pay attention to little things in open ice – if I see a defender trying to stay in front, I want to slide to a small spot of open ice,” he said. “I can win battles on the boards because I can find the right positioning, and when I get the puck, I want to go to the net.”

Those are the details he’s become known for in the draft. What he does with that space or the puck after winning a battle are the less-spoken traits. 

Brandsegg-Nygard’s release is one of the heaviest in the NHL draft class, and he has a diverse repertoire of shots. His one-timer is a real weapon, and his willingness to use it more often is a big reason for the offensive uptick in the second half of the year. His hands in tight make him a threat to clean up rebounds or redirect shots from the outside.

“With Norway at the Worlds, I was more ready to take on a leading role,” Brandsegg-Nygard said. “Even though I am younger than most of the guys on that team, I wanted to help all over the ice. I made good decisions on defense so that I could go and get involved on offense.”

For Brandsegg-Nygard, it was as simple as some boosted confidence from the world juniors and his team needing him to play more down the stretch. His offensive game was always there. It flashed occasionally with a slick handle when coming out of the corner or a puck jumping off his stick as he unleashed a shot off the rush.

With trust from his coaches and realizing he could use his responsible defensive game to create offense in a counter-punch fashion, Brandsegg-Nygard flourished.

Some NHL teams may disregard the offensive game of Brandsegg-Nygard because he’s “just a defensive forward,” but there is a very good chance they’ll regret it when he’s giving them fits at both ends of the ice for whatever opponent identifies the growth and talent he possesses. 

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