Red Wings sign Michael Brandsegg-Nygård to three-year entry-level contract

Another talented European has signed an NHL contract in Hockeytown.

On Thursday, the Detroit Red Wings announced that they have signed forward Michael Brandsegg-Nygård to a three-year, entry-level contract. The deal will have an AAV of $975,000 over the course of its life.

Brandsegg-Nygård was selected by the Red Wings in the first round, 15th overall, in the 2024 NHL Draft. With the pick, he became the highest-drafted Norwegian in league history, and the first to be selected in the first round.

While it’s too early to tell if Brandsegg-Nygård has what it takes to achieve the same career success as fellow countryman Mats Zuccarello, there are many aspects of his game to be excited about. The Oslo native is a two-way winger and is considered by many to be a dangerous release, making him an underrated scorer. At 6-foot-1 and 200 pounds, he’s not afraid to use his body, something he puts to good use on the defensive side of the puck, an aspect that certainly caught the attention of Red Wings general manager and former Selke Trophy winner Steve Yzerman.

Brandsegg-Nygård has already proven he can play against men, having spent the last two seasons with Mora IK in Sweden’s Allsvenskan league. After tearing it up at junior level with Mora in 2022-23, the 18-year-old proved he can be a key player at the top level, scoring eight goals and adding ten assists in 41 games. He also scored 10 points in 12 qualifying games.

He has been a consistent figure on the international stage in recent years, representing Norway at the 2022 IIHF Men’s Under-18 Division 1A World Championship and the 2023 IIHF Division 1A World Junior Championship. Brandsegg-Nygård helped Norway to promotion to the top WJC division last year. In five games at this year’s World Junior Championship, he scored three goals and five points, although Norway was relegated back to Division 1A.

Brandsegg-Nygård earned the right to play for the national team last spring and played seven games at the 2024 IIHF Men’s World Championship, scoring five points in seven games.

Brandsegg-Nygård is expected to remain abroad for at least one more season, as he has signed a contract with Skellefteå AIK of the Swedish Hockey League for the 2024–25 season.