It was a continuation of the norm for the Red Wings with the 15th overall pick in the NHL Draft on Friday night. It was also history.
They went back to the Swedish ranks to select forward Michael Brandsegg-Nygard -- the first-ever Norwegian to be drafted in the first round.
A 6'1 winger, Brandsegg-Nygard spent last season with Mora IK in Sweden’s second highest professional league, putting up 18 points in 41 games, plus 10 points in 12 playoff games. He also led Norway in goal scoring at the World Championships this spring as the second youngest player on the team.
"A gamer," per Elite Prospects .
Ranked No. 5 among European skaters by NHL Central Scouting, Brandsegg-Nygard is a physical player known for his shot and hockey smarts. In a league with grown men last season, he "bullied his opponents most nights," per Elite Prospects. He also knows how to put the puck in the net, which is something the Wings have lacked in their system -- and in Detroit.
"My best skill? Probably my shot," he told reporters Friday night at the draft.
"He can really rip it," said Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman. "But it's not like he's just a one-dimensional shooter. He's got all parts of the game ... but I'd say primarily, his greatest strength, he can skate down the wing and he can rip it."
The Wings have been trying to forge a heavier, harder-to-play-against identity under Steve Yzerman and head coach Derek Lalonde, who saw first-hand how that pushed the Lightning over the top. Brandsegg-Nygard should help them in this department, too.
"Big, strong, young man," said Yzerman. "Physically developed, can really shoot the puck. I think he’s a really good two-way player and a goal-scoring winger that obviously fills a void in our prospect pool."
Asked how he uses his physicality to his advantage, he said, "I feel like I’m pretty good to get into the defenseman’s body, push them away and pop up somewhere in the offensive zone and get the puck and shoot. And on the forecheck, too, I feel like I’m good to be quick up in the defensemen and hit them and take the puck back and try to stay in the offensive zone."
It's the fifth year in a row that Yzerman and the Red Wings have drafted a Swedish league player in the first round, with Brandsegg-Nygard joining Axel Sandin-Pellikka, Marco Kasper, Simon Edvinsson and Lucas Raymond.
He recently signed a one-year deal with Skelleftea AIK of the Swedish Hockey League, a leap into the best league in the country. That's where he figures to play next season, alongside Sandin-Pellikka.
"Nice to have the two kids in one program," said Yzerman. "Most importantly, he's in a good organization and on a good team, and they're not just going to hand him ice time. It'll be a real good transition moving up into the Swedish Hockey League."
Most Popular
Comments / 0