In collaboration with Upper Deck, a look at everything you need to know about Detroit's first round pick, Michael Brandsegg-Nygård
In collaboration with Upper Deck, a look at everything you need to know about Detroit's first round pick, Michael Brandsegg-Nygård
With the 15th pick of the 2024 NHL Draft, the Red Wings selected Michael Brandsegg-Nygård, a Norwegian winger from the Swedish club Mora IK. He projects as a rugged, hard-working winger with a shot scary enough to add considerable offensive upside.
The latest rumblings suggest that, instead of blindly moving forward with the plan for Brandsegg-Nygård to join 2023 first rounder Axel Sandin-Pellikka at Skellefteå AIK next season and instead come to Red Wings training camp with a chance to earn a North American roster spot for the coming season. Whether or not he comes stateside for the coming season, let's take a moment to get to know Detroit's latest first round pick.
On the Significance of Norwegian Identity
In being selected 15th, Brandsegg-Nygård—born in Oslo—became the highest drafted Norwegian born player ever. The significance of Brand a subject that Connor Earegood wrote about at length in a feature from just before the draft:
-By the time mini sticks grew to real ones, Michael benefited from a big development in Norwegian youth sports. With the help of training from USA Hockey representatives, Norway installed a Learn to Play development model in 2003 that prioritized player development beyond wins and losses. Players had to have the same amount of ice time until they were 14. Practice structures focused on skill development through small area games and competition rather than just scrimmages and bag skates. And the coaches running those practices? Highly trained compared to their predecessors. Richard was one of those coaches, and he remains involved in Norwegian youth hockey long after his son has moved on to other leagues.
Norway U20 coach Christer Nylund said of Brandsegg-Nygård's significance to future generations of young Norwegian players:
-“I think when you have Michael and these kinds of players who, in a way, open the door, it becomes a trend among Norwegian players to take the step and maybe be the next guy who makes that journey,” Nylund said. “... I don't think Michael has thought so much about that, being the guy who's opening the door, but of course he's a big name in Norwegian hockey and they like to watch him play and watch the road that he’s done.”
A Development Camp Scouting Report
Here are a few notes on Brandsegg-Nygård's performance last week at Red Wings development camp:
-The week got off to an unfortunate for Detroit's most recent first round pick (15th overall) when equipment issues meant that for the first two days of camp, Brandsegg-Nygard couldn't seem to stop stumbling. For assistant director of player development Dan Cleary, it became an opportunity to reinforce the fact that the purpose of camp from the perspective of the Red Wings staff is not judgment.
-"I was talking to Nygard," Cleary said. "He's having trouble with his skates, falling down, and listen, I'm not here judging that, whether you can stand up or not. We've seen your body of work, and [assistant GM Kris Draper] has looked at him all year with our scouting staff."
In the three-on-three tournament, the attributes ascribed to Brandsegg-Nygard in pre-draft conversation began to come out. He was hard on the puck, and his shot looked dangerous (particularly on a beautiful snipe from close range). Even in the context of a three-on-three game in the summer, I liked the instinct Brandsegg-Nygard showed to drive toward the net with the puck on his stick.
"Taxi"
One unique aspect of Brandsegg-Nygård's game is that he is foregoing the usual NHL nickname convention (diminutive of last name plus -y or -er) for something more entertaining. Cleary also revealed that Brandsegg-Nygård goes by the nickname "Taxi" on the ice, a soubriquet he inherited from his father.
Brandsegg-Nygård's father Richard's family drove a cab, so when Richard's mother dropped him off for hockey practice or a game, she did so in the cab, and the name nickname "Taxi" came to be. When it was Michael's turn to be dropped off at the rink, the family car and were business were unchanged, so that nickname added a new generation.
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