LAS VEGAS — The Detroit Red Wings added some offensive potential to the organization on Friday night when they selected forward Michael Brandsegg-Nygård of Norway with the 15th overall pick in the 2024 NHL Draft.
Brandsegg-Nygård is the first Norwegian selected in the first round of the NHL draft. The Oslo native has been playing in Sweden’s second league and is scheduled to spend the 2024-25 season with Skellefteå in Sweden’s top hockey league. There, he will be teammates with fellow Red Wings prospect Axel Sandin Pellikka. Brandsegg-Nygård, 18, is already 6-foot-1 and weighs 207 pounds. He shoots well, which is always in high demand. He is known to be a hard worker and regularly strives to make a difference.
THE PANORAMA:The 2024 NHL Draft presents an opportunity for the Detroit Red Wings to improve the team now and in the future
Brandsegg-Nygård scored eight goals and had ten assists for Mora in the 2023-24 season in HockeyAllsvensken. However, he has a better scoring touch than his statistics suggest and is the type of player whose efforts are not necessarily reflected on a scoreboard, as he works from deep and participates in creating offensive opportunities.
The event was held at Sphere, an 18,600-seat auditorium that is touted for its immersive audio and video capabilities. It is the last time all teams will be under one roof for a draft, as the NHL will move to a decentralized model next year to allow for remote participation.
It is also the third consecutive draft in which general manager Steve Yzerman has selected a forward in the first round, following the selections of Marco Kasper at No. 8 in 2022 and Nate Danielson at No. 9 in 2023. Kasper made his NHL debut with a single game in the 2022–23 season. Kasper spent last season with the Grand Rapids Griffins of the AHL, recording 14 goals and 21 assists in 71 games, while Danielson spent his age-19 season in juniors, scoring 12 goals and adding 19 assists in 28 games with the Portland Winterhawks of the AHL. WHL.
Boston University’s Macklin Celebrini was the first overall pick Friday night in Las Vegas, selected by the San Jose Sharks on Friday night. Celebrini was followed by Michigan State defenseman Artyom Levshunov at No. 2 to the Chicago Blackhawks. Michigan State placed another player in the top 10 when Saginaw Spirit defenseman Zayne Parekh was selected by the Calgary Flames with the ninth overall pick.
The NHL draft continues at 11:30 a.m. Saturday, with the Red Wings owning seven additional draft picks: Nos. 47, 80, 126, 144, 176, 203 and 208.
Contact Helene St. James at hstjames@freepress.com. Follow her on Twitter @helenestjamesHis latest book, “On the Clock: Behind the Scenes with the Detroit Red Wings at the NHL Draft,” is available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Triumph Books. Custom copies available via email.
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