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Wings make Brandsegg-Nygard 1st-ever Norwegian drafted in Round 1

Bruce Bennett / Getty Images Sport / Getty

The Detroit Red Wings drafted winger Michael Brandsegg-Nygard with the 15th overall pick in the 2024 NHL Draft on Friday.

Brandsegg-Nygard is the first Norwegian player to ever to be selected in the first round. Marius Holtet was the previous highest-drafted Norwegian when the Dallas Stars selected him 42nd overall in 2002.

Michael Brandsegg-Nygard

Brandsegg-Nygard possesses an NHL-ready frame and a lethal shot that projects to make him a top-six scoring winger in the pros. He improved as the season progressed and showed well for Norway at the World Juniors and the World Championship.

He told theScore at the 2024 NHL Scouting Combine that he felt his physicality was the aspect of his game that improved the most.

"As the season went on, I felt more comfortable having to protect the puck and be physical," Brandsegg-Nygard said.

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