DETROIT — The Red Wings made a bit of history on Friday with their first-round pick in Las Vegas.
The Wings selected centre Michael Brunseg-Nygaard with the Sphere’s 15th overall pick. Brunseg-Nygaard is the first Norwegian player to be selected in the first round of the NHL Entry Draft.
“It means a lot,” Branseggen-Nygaard said of being selected in the first round of the draft. “Mats Zuccarello (a current NHL player from Norway) was a role model for me and I’m really excited to see a Norwegian playing in the NHL. I hope I can be a role model for young players in Norway and help grow hockey in Norway.”
“The Original Six team is super cool, they have a long history, they’re just a cool team.”
More: NHL Draft: Michigan State’s Refshunoff selected No. 2 overall by Blackhawks
Branseg-Nygard already has a professional build at 6’1″ and 207 pounds, and is the type of prospect the Wings have been eyeing in recent years. He’s a two-way right winger with a strong shot and good playmaking ability, and he’s just as responsible defensively as he is offensively. He’s a physical player who is strong and likes to make contact and play with an edge.
Several scouting services considered Branseg-Nygard one of the best forecheckers available for the draft.
“I feel like I can get under a defensive player, push him off and pop out somewhere in the offensive zone and get the puck and shoot,” Branseg-Nygard said. “On the forecheck, I’m good at getting under a defensive player and hitting him and getting the puck back.”
Brandseg-Nygaard has earned 18 points (eight goals, 10 assists) in 41 games with Mora IK in the Swedish Elite League and five points (three goals, two assists) in five international matches for Norway.
“Probably the shot,” Branseg-Nygard said of her best skill. “I’m happy with my shot.”
Ranked fifth in NHL Central Scouting’s international skater rankings, Brunseg-Nygard surpassed Norwegian forward Marius Holtet, who was selected 42nd overall (second round) by Dallas in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft.
“Michael has been one of Norway’s best prospects over the last few years,” said Jukka-Pekka Vuorinen, NHL.com’s director of European scouting. “He’s good with the puck and sees the ice well. He looks confident and calm with the puck. He’s a strong skater with decent first-step quickness. He has good hands and a dangerous wrist shot.”
Brandzeg Nygaard will remain in Sweden next season and will play for Skellefteå, the same team as defenceman Aksel Sandin Pelikka, who was the Wings’ first-round pick last year.
“He said it’s a great organization and he loves being here (with the Red Wings),” Branseg Nygard said. “I’m happy to be drafted by the same team.”
tkulfan@detroitnews.com
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2024 NHL Entry Draft
▶ Location: Sphere, Las Vegas
▶ Date and time: Saturday (Rounds 2 to 7)
▶ Time: Saturday, 11:30am
▶ Television: NHL Network
▶ Red Wings picks: The Red Wings currently own the second-, third-, fifth-, sixth- and seventh-round picks, plus Dallas’ fourth-round pick and New Jersey’s seventh-round pick.
Round 1
1. San Jose Sharks: Macklin Celebrini, C, Boston College
2. Chicago Blackhawks: Artyom Levshunov, D, Michigan State University
3. Anaheim Ducks: Beckett Senneke, RW, Oshawa
4. Columbus Blue Jackets: Caden Lindstrom, C, Medicine Hat
5. Montreal Canadiens: Ivan Demidov, RW, Russia
6. Utah Hockey Club: Tiji Iginla, C, Kelowna
7. Ottawa Senators: Carter Jakemchuk, D, Calgary
8. Seattle Kraken: Berkley Catton, C, Spokane
9. Calgary Flames: Zayn Parekh, D, Saginaw
10. New Jersey Devils: Anton Shiraev, D, Russia
11. Buffalo Sabres: Sam Dickinson, D, London
12. Minnesota Wild: Zeev Buium, D, Denver
13. Philadelphia Flyers: Jett Ruchanko, C, Guelph
14. Buffalo: Konsta Helenius, C, Finland
15. Detroit Red Wings: Michael Brandzeg-Nygard, RW, Sweden
16. St. Louis Blues: Adam Ilicek, D, Czech Republic
17. Washington Capitals: Teric Palascak, RW, Prince George
18. Chicago Blackhawks (from NYI): Sacha Boisvert, C, Muskegon
19. Vegas Golden Knights: Trevor Connelly, LW, Tri-City
20. New York Islanders (TBL via CHI): Cole Yzerman, LW, NTDP
21. Montreal Canadiens: Michael Hage, C, Chicago
22. Nashville Predators: Egor Surin, C, Russia
23. Anaheim Ducks: Stian Solberg, D, Norway
24. Utah: Cole Beaudoin, C, Barry
25. Boston Bruins (via DET and OTT): Dean Letourneau, C, University of St. Andrews
26. Los Angeles Kings: Liam Greentree, RW, Windsor
27. Chicago Blackhawks: Marek Vanacker, LW, Brantford
28. Calgary Flames (from VAN): Maltvey-Giridine, RW, Muskegon
29. Dallas Stars: Emil Hemming, RW, Finland
30. New York Rangers: Eric Emery, D, NTDP
31. Toronto Maple Leafs (from EDM): Ben Dunford, D, Oshawa
32. Edmonton Oilers (from Florida): Sam O’Reilly, RW, London
