It wasn’t a question of if, but who, would break the record for the highest drafted Norwegian in NHL history at the 2024 NHL Draft. Consider history made, thanks to the help of the Detroit Red Wings. Right wing Michael Brandsegg-Nygård became the highest drafted Norwegian when Detroit picked him 15th overall. Brandsegg-Nygård’s game is best characterized by how much opponents hate playing against him. While he does have a high-end shot driven by his quick release, he more so impacts games through his sheer work ethic. He’ll hit, he’ll check, he’ll lay out to block shots to help his team win. This makes him a functional player anywhere in the lineup, and it also makes him the kind of player that could be exciting for Detroit to work with. He was among the most pro ready players of his draft class. Last season, Brandsegg-Nygård played for Mora IK of the HockeyAllsvenskan, the second-tier league in Sweden. He scored 18 points in 41 games, which is a solid season for a draft-year prospect in a low-scoring league. A lot of that came from his quick-release shot. But with Brandsegg-Nygård, scoring is a fraction of what he provides. He’s a competitor to the nth degree, someone who wills games his way if he can’t win them with skill. “When he gets that helmet on, something happens with him,” Norway U20 coach Christer Nylund told The Hockey News last month. “The players I’ve worked with throughout my career, I think that's maybe the most important thing that you can have as a player, like getting that helmet on and then just being so focused and so competitive in the game.” Next season will be a big one for Brandsegg-Nygård, when he will play for Skelleftea AIK of the SHL. That team probably sounds familiar because it’s where Red Wings defense prospect Axel Sandin Pellikka plays — and where he won the SHL Championship this season. Brandsegg-Nygård infuses a lot of talent into a Red Wings pipeline that lacked a lot of high-end talent on the wings. After prioritizing depth at center and defense for most of the rebuild, Detroit now has a more well-rounded prospect pool. Now that he’s made Norwegian history at the draft, he’ll look to represent his country in the NHL, too. The previous record for highest Norwegian drafted was held by Marius Holtet, drafted 42nd overall in 2002. Only nine Norwegians have ever played in the NHL, and Brandsegg-Nygård will look to push that number into double digits. Brandsegg-Nygård is the Red Wings’ third 15th overall pick in the past 11 years, following center Dylan Larkin in 2014 and goaltender Sebastian Cossa in 2021. ALSO FROM THN DETROIT Three Questions for the Red Wings to Answer at the Draft [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/detroit-red-wings/latest-news/three-questions-for-the-red-wings-to-answer-at-the-draft] From Sweden to the NHL Draft, Michael Brandsegg-Nygård is Opening Doors for Norwegian Hockey [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/detroit-red-wings/game-day/from-sweden-to-the-nhl-draft-michael-brandsegg-nyg%C3%A5rd-is-opening-doors-for-norwegian-hockey] Breaking: Ex-Red Wings GM Out in Edmonton [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/detroit-red-wings/latest-news/breaking-ex-red-wings-gm-out-in-edmonton] Latest Red Wings Rumblings: Stamkos? Gibson? Jarry? Buy Outs? [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/detroit-red-wings/latest-news/latest-red-wings-rumblings-stamkos-gibson-jarry-buy-outs] Red Wings Rapid Fire Draft Preview
