Michael Brandsegg-Nygård (born 5 October 2005) is a Norwegian professional ice hockey player who is a forward for the Grand Rapids Griffins of the American Hockey League (AHL) while under contract to the Detroit Red Wings of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was drafted 15th overall by the Red Wings in the 2024 NHL entry draft, becoming the first Norwegian ever selected in the first round.
| Michael Brandsegg-Nygård | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 Brandsegg-Nygård in 2024 | |||
| Born |
5 October 2005 Oslo, Norway | ||
| Height | 185 cm (6 ft 1 in) | ||
| Weight | 94 kg (207 lb; 14 st 11 lb) | ||
| Position | Forward | ||
| Shoots | Right | ||
| NHL team (P) Cur. team Former teams |
Detroit Red Wings Grand Rapids Griffins (AHL) Vålerenga Ishockey Skellefteå AIK | ||
| National team |
 Norway | ||
| NHL draft |
15th overall, 2024 Detroit Red Wings | ||
| Playing career | 2021–present | ||
Early life
editMichael Brandsegg-Nygård was born and raised in Oslo, Norway, where his father Kjell Richard Nygård played for Vålerenga of EliteHockey Ligaen.[1][2] His father also played for Norway's national team.[3][4] Brandsegg-Nygård is close friends with Stian Solberg, with whom he played as a youth in Vålerenga's system. After Brandsegg-Nygård, Solberg was selected by the Anaheim Ducks to become the second-ever Norwegian first-round draft choice.[5][6]
Playing career
editBrandsegg-Nygård made his senior professional debut for Vålerenga Ishockey of Norway's EliteHockey Ligaen (EHL) as a 16 year old, appearing in eight EHL games in addition to playing at the under-20 level. He was offered a spot in the system of Swedish club Mora IK midway through the year, but chose to remain in Norway until the season ended.[7]
Turning down an offer of a full time EHL role with Vålerenga,[7] Brandsegg-Nygård joined Mora for the 2022–23 season, appearing in 11 games in the second-tier HockeyAllsvenskan and 35 in the J20 Nationell.[8] He made his Allsvenskan debut a week after turning 17, on 12 October 2022,[9] and scored his first goal in the league against Tingsryds AIF on 7 November 2022.[7]
In his draft-eligible season, Brandsegg-Nygård once again split time between the professional and junior levels, recording eight goals and ten assists in 41 Allsvenskan games.[10] His shot, hockey IQ, and mature game were among the features lauded by scouts, who projected him as a first round pick and possibly "the best prospect Norway has ever produced."[8][11]
On 17 May 2024, Swedish Hockey League (SHL) club Skellefteå AIK announced that they had signed Brandsegg-Nygård to a one-year contract.[12] On 28 June 2024, at the 2024 NHL entry draft, he was selected 15th overall by the Detroit Red Wings, becoming the first Norwegian player selected in the first round.[13] Two weeks later, on 11 July, he signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Red Wings.[14] For the 2024–25 season, he was on loan to Skellefteå.[15] In hopes of winning the Le Mat Trophy, Brandsegg-Nygård chose to return to Sweden instead of playing for the Grand Rapids Griffins, the Red Wings' American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate.[16] After Skellefteå was eliminated in the semifinals of the SHL playoffs, Brandsegg-Nygård went to the United States to play for the Griffins.[17]
International play
edit| Medal record | ||
|---|---|---|
| Representing Norway | ||
| Men's ice hockey | ||
| World Championships | ||
 | 2026 Switzerland | |
Brandsegg-Nygård made his senior international debut at the 2022 MECA Hockey Games, appearing against Latvia and Denmark as a 17 year old.[18][19]
At Division I A of the 2023 World Junior Championships, Brandsegg-Nygård and the Norway junior team finished in first, earning promotion to the top division for the first time in nearly 10 years.[20]
Returning to Norway's team for the 2024 World Junior Championships, he had three goals and five points in five games, with an average of 17:22 of time on ice.[21] In the relegation match against Germany junior team, Norway lost 5–4 in overtime to be sent back to Division I A.[22]
In his senior-level team debut at the 2024 World Championship, Brandsegg-Nygård was the third youngest player, behind teammate Stian Solberg and Finnish forward Konsta Helenius.[23] He finished the tournament with three goals and five points in seven games, with each of his goals coming off assists from Mats Zuccarello.[24]
Career statistics
editRegular season and playoffs
edit| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
| 2020–21 | Vålerenga | NOR U21 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2021–22 | Vålerenga | NOR | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2021–22 | Vålerenga | NOR U20 | 25 | 24 | 18 | 42 | 20 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 4 | ||
| 2022–23 | Mora IK | Allsv | 11 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 6 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2022–23 | Mora IK | J20 | 35 | 17 | 21 | 38 | 28 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2023–24 | Mora IK | Allsv | 41 | 8 | 10 | 18 | 19 | 12 | 4 | 6 | 10 | 8 | ||
| 2023–24 | Mora IK | J20 | 7 | 5 | 7 | 12 | 10 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2024–25 | Skellefteå AIK | SHL | 42 | 5 | 6 | 11 | 51 | 11 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 12 | ||
| 2024–25 | Grand Rapids Griffins | AHL | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 4 | ||
| 2025–26 | Detroit Red Wings | NHL | 14 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2025–26 | Grand Rapids Griffins | AHL | 60 | 20 | 24 | 44 | 42 | 8 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 10 | ||
| SHL totals | 42 | 5 | 6 | 11 | 51 | 11 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 12 | ||||
| NHL totals | 14 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | ||||
International
edit
Awards and honours
editReferences
edit- ↑ NTB (29 June 2024). "Michael Brandsegg-Nygård og Stian Solberg valgt i NHL-draftet". Nettavisen (in Norwegian). Retrieved 2 July 2025.
- ↑ Mills, Jonathan (29 June 2024). "Red Wings select 'really good two-way player' Michael Brandsegg-Nygard at No. 15 overall on Day 1 of 2024 NHL Entry Draft". Detroit Red Wings. Retrieved 2 July 2025.
- ↑ Boger, Christian (14 November 2022). "Vålerenga-gutten Michael (17) med hockeysukess i Sverige. - Det har gått mye raskere enn jeg drømte om". vartoslo.no. Vårt Oslo. Retrieved 29 February 2024.
- ↑ "Kjell Richard Nygaard". eliteprospects.com. Retrieved 29 February 2024.
- ↑ Myklebust Haugen, Espen; Bariås, Jonas; Brevik, Bjørn Roger; Sannum Lauten, Daniel (2 June 2025). "Slo i stykker en dør: - Aldri vært så sint". TV 2 (in Norwegian Bokmål). Retrieved 2 July 2025.
- ↑ Bårtvedt, Hans Henrik (4 May 2024). "I dette bygget kan 18-åringene skrive norgeshistorie: – Helt sykt". NRK (in Norwegian Bokmål). Retrieved 2 July 2025.
- 1 2 3 Jansson, Martin (4 December 2022). "Michael Brandsegg-Nygård om succén: "Blivit överraskad själv"". hockeysverige.se (in Swedish). Hockeysveirge. Retrieved 29 February 2024.
- 1 2 Maciag, Joe (11 December 2023). "2024 NHL Draft Player Profile: Michael Brandsegg-Nygård". recruitscouting.com. Recruit Scouting. Retrieved 11 January 2024.
- ↑ Bakkehaug, Wegard (16 October 2022). "Michael (17) debuterte for Mora: - Egentlig litt overrasket". nitten.no (in Norwegian). Retrieved 29 February 2024.
- ↑ Fischer, John (10 May 2024). "Michael Brandsegg-Nygård: 2024 NHL Draft Prospect Profile; Norway's Finest Prospect". allaboutthejersey.com. SBNation. Retrieved 10 May 2024.
- ↑ Alanen, Lassi (20 August 2023). "Future Vision: Michael Brandsegg-Nygård and the makings of a modern power forward". eprinkside.com. Elite Prospects. Retrieved 11 January 2024.
- ↑ "Varmt välkommen, Michael Brandsegg-Nygård!" (in Swedish). Skellefteå AIK. 17 May 2024. Retrieved 18 May 2024.
- ↑ Shapiro, Sean (29 June 2024). "Norwegian history made as Stian Solberg and Michael Brandsegg-Nygård go in first round of 2024 NHL Draft". EP Rinkside. Retrieved 1 July 2024.
- ↑ Roth, Thomas (11 July 2024). "Red Wings sign Michael Brandsegg-Nygård to three-year, entry-level contract". NHL.com. Retrieved 12 July 2024.
- ↑ "Red Wings trim 2024 preseason roster to 28 | Detroit Red Wings". www.nhl.com. 6 October 2024. Retrieved 2 July 2025.
- ↑ Borren Kristoffersen, Erlend; Bariås, Jonas (8 October 2024). "Sa nei til superstjernen - Var ikke den tøffeste da". TV 2 (in Norwegian Bokmål). Retrieved 2 July 2025.
- ↑ NTB (15 April 2025). "Stortalentet Brandsegg-Nygård hentes til USA". fvn.no (in Norwegian Bokmål). Retrieved 2 July 2025.
- ↑ "Fremtidens A-landslagsspillere får sjansen i Trondheim". hockey.no (in Norwegian). 28 October 2022. Retrieved 29 February 2024.
- ↑ "Michael Brandsegg-Nygård". hockey.no. Retrieved 29 February 2024.
- ↑ Ellis, Steven (13 December 2023). "2024 World Junior Championship Preview: Team Norway". dailyfaceoff.com. Daily Faceoff. Retrieved 11 January 2024.
- ↑ Morreale, Mike G. (5 January 2024). "2024 World Junior Championship: 10 things learned". NHL.com. National Hockey League. Retrieved 11 January 2024.
- ↑ Kardaman, Katelyn (5 January 2024). "Ostlund, Wahlberg win silver at World Juniors; Kulich takes home bronze". NHL.com. Buffalo Sabres. Retrieved 11 January 2024.
- ↑ Vickers, Aaron (21 May 2024). "Brandsegg-Nygard getting valuable reps for Norway at World Championship". National Hockey League. Retrieved 27 May 2024.
- ↑ Loucks, Dylan (22 May 2024). "Mats Zuccarello, Norway Eliminated from IIHF World Championships". The Hockey News. Retrieved 27 May 2024.
- ↑ "AHL announces 2025-26 Top Prospects Team". American Hockey League. 10 June 2026. Retrieved 10 June 2026.
External links
edit- Biographical information and career statistics from NHL.com, or Eliteprospects.com, or The Internet Hockey Database