© Candice Ward/Getty Images

DETROIT — The past two first-round NHL Draft picks of the Detroit Red Wings will be playing together this season, not at Little Caesars Arena, but rather with Skelleftea, the defending champion of the Swedish Hockey League.

That’s where forward Michael Brandsegg-Nygard, the No. 15 pick in the 2024 NHL Draft, will play alongside defenseman Axel Sandin Pellikka, who the Red Wings chose with the No. 17 pick in the 2023 NHL Draft.

“Before signing a three-year, entry-level contract with Detroit on Thursday, Brandsegg-Nygard revealed that we had practiced together for approximately two weeks leading up to the draft. During this time, he also inquired about Sandin Pellikka’s post-draft journey.”

The Red Wings have used Sweden as a training ground for years. Two of their top young players, forward Lucas Raymond and defenseman Moritz Seider, played there, as did two of their prospects, defenseman Simon Edvinsson and forward Jonatan Berggren.

Before that, of course, were the Sweden-born players who helped Detroit win four Stanley Cup championships between 1997 and 2008. Nicklas Lidstrom and Henrik Zetterberg each was a captain, and Niklas Kronwall, Johan Franzen and Tomas Holmstrom were major contributors.

Brandsegg-Nygard stands out for one crucial distinction: he holds the distinction of being the inaugural Norway-born player selected in the first round of an NHL Draft.

“I’ve had this dream for a very long time,” said Brandsegg-Nygard, a native of Oslo, in an interview with the Red Wings website during the draft. “And now, finally, I am living that dream. I plan to put in the hard work, continue doing what I’ve always done, and hopefully, one day, I will become an NHL player.”

Detroit is confident that they have a player who can make a valuable contribution on both offense and defense.

According to Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman, “In my opinion, he demonstrates a commendable level of responsibility in his gameplay despite his young age. During our time in junior leagues, our main focus was on scoring rather than defensive play. However, he possesses a truly versatile skill set that encompasses all aspects of the game.”

In my opinion, he possesses the versatility to excel in various situations. He is adept at playing on either wing and can contribute effectively in multiple positions on the power play.

Last season, at the age of 18, Brandsegg-Nygard showcased his skills against male players while representing Mora IK in Sweden’s second-highest professional league. Throughout 41 games, he accumulated a total of 18 points, consisting of eight goals and 10 assists. Notably, he elevated his performance during the playoffs, contributing 10 points, including four goals and six assists, in just 12 games.

“His game is impressive,” remarked Dan Cleary, the director of player development for Detroit, at the recent Red Wings development camp. “Observing his play, it’s evident that he possesses great strength, excels in puck protection, and exhibits a remarkable shooting ability.”

Cleary assigned Brandsegg-Nygard with specific tasks to focus on during the season, sending them back to Sweden.

Similar to all young children, we acknowledge the need for improvement in their testing. As they grow older and gain more maturity, they will naturally become stronger. Regarding his skating abilities, he is aware that there is room for growth and acknowledges the need to put in the necessary work.

He has a strong motivation to work on it. Those are the ones that will experience improvement.

Brandsegg-Nygard concurs, recognizing that these abilities are integral aspects of his gameplay.

“I enjoy using my physicality to outmuscle the defenseman, creating space for myself in the offensive zone to make a play or take a shot,” he explained. “During the forecheck, I am swift in closing the gap, delivering a solid hit on the defenseman, and swiftly retrieving possession of the puck.”