The time of the year has come for The Win Column’s NHL Draft Rankings and Draft Profiles! We are on to our 15th-ranked prospect, Michael Brandsegg-Nygard out of Norway.
He is projected to be the first-ever Norwegian to be selected in the first round.
Who is Michael Brandsegg-Nygard?
| PLAYER | POSITION | HANDEDNESS | HEIGHT | WEIGHT |
| Michael Brandsegg-Nygard | RW | Right | 6’1″ | 198 lbs |
Brandsegg-Nygard is a right winger power forward out of the HockeyAllsvenskan league. This league is the second-highest league in Sweden behind the SHL.
Brandsegg-Nygard’s on-ice production
| YEAR | DRAFT RELATIVE | LEAGUE | TEAM | GP | G | A | P |
| 2022–23 | D-1 | Swe-Jr | Mora IK Jr. | 35 | 17 | 21 | 38 |
| 2022–23 | D-1 | Swe-1 | Mora IK | 11 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| 2023–24 | D+0 | Swe-Jr | Mora IK Jr. | 7 | 5 | 7 | 12 |
| 2023–24 | D+0 | Swe-1 | Mora IK | 41 | 8 | 10 | 18 |
Brandsegg-Nygard doesn’t have the most eye-popping stats in the draft, however he has had a very successful season. He fights for pucks and is able to create solid scoring opportunities as a result. With a high motor and ability to get past defenders with his solid hands, Brandsegg-Nygard has proven to scouts that he could be a solid top 6 player in the NHL.
Brandsegg-Nygard’s strengths
Unpredictable shot
Brandssegg-Nygard is not shy to shoot the puck, and when his release is as good as it is, it can really cause issues for the goalies. It’s a quick and deceptive release, and it could translate really well to the NHL with how accurate he can be. The first clip in the below video demonstrates his relentless pressure, along with him quickly firing the puck top left past the goalie in the 2024 WJC.
Here is another clip from the same game where he scored his second goal of the game. Brandsegg-Nygard shows off his quick and deceptive release from the right side of the ice.
Hockey IQ
Brandsegg-Nygard is regarded as one of the most complete players in the draft, and a lot of this is due to his solid hockey IQ. Brandsegg-Nygard is excellent in analyzing plays, and determining where and when his teammates will be available for a pass. He constantly has his head up determining where he has space to skate the puck up. With his ability to read the play, and his pace of play, he can be a creative puck carrier.
Defensive play
Michael Bransegg-Nygard is looked at as one of the best defensive forwards in the 2024 NHL Draft. He is a relentless forechecker who is excellent at using his big frame to connect with players and tie them up. We saw this in the clip above, as Brandsegg-Nygard pokes a loose puck away from his opponent, and he hustles to create a partial breakaway which leads to a goal.
Brandsegg-Nygard’s areas of improvement
Physicality
This isn’t necessarily something that Brandsegg-Nygard is bad at, as he has used his big frame effectively as mentioned above. However, the NHL is a much bigger league, and for Brandsegg-Nygard to use his frame in the same way, he will need to bulk up a bit more. The average NHLer is around 6’1″ and 198 pounds. This is Brandsegg-Nygard’s exact size. However, because he is a player who initiates contact and creates a good amount of opportunities through that, it would be a good idea for him to get a little stronger and be in the upper half of the league in strength so he can battle with the best of them.
Brandsegg-Nygard comparables
A true comparable to the Norwegian would be a top-six player who is both reliable on the power play and penalty kill. Someone who may not put up a ton of points, but plays every shift like it’s his last and often contributes in ways that may not show on the scoresheet. To me, this sounds a lot like Michael Frolik, however, when I watch clips of him play, he looks much better.
It’s really weird to me that he only put up 18 points in 41 games. I understand that he is playing against men at only 18 years old, but when I see clips of him, he looks much better than the statistics that he put up. I think whichever team that is drafting Brandsegg-Nygard is betting on the traits that he has, and is hoping that the stats come with time.
Summary
Michael Brandsegg-Nygard is a player who will give it his all every single shift. He is a relentless forechecker who will always give his opponents constant pressure to try and get the puck out of their hands. Additionally, he uses his size to his advantage and has a very strong shot. Though he may not have your typical stats as a first-round pick in the 10–15 range, he has traits that scream first-round potential.
Risk: 2/5
Reward: 4/5
NHL Comparable: Michael Frolik (but better)
Projection: Top-six two-way winger
