Gotta See It: Red Wings Top Pick Nets Spectacular Goal

When the Detroit Red Wings were selecting Norwegian forward Michael Brandsegg-Nygard 15th overall in the 2024 NHL entry draft, an element of his game that everyone was talking about was the right-winger’s powerful shot.

“He can really shoot the puck,” Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman said at the draft.

It didn’t take long for Brandsegg-Nygard to be displaying this ability during the Swedish Hockey League preseason. Making his debut for Skelleftea in a 6-5 away overtime win at Bjorkloven, Brandsegg-Nygard would tally to make it 4-4.

Full shift of MBN prior to the goal pic.twitter.com/ItjNTIbO9b

— IcehockeyGifs (@IcehockeyG) August 16, 2024

Setting up at the top of the faceoff circles as he was entering the offensive zone, Brandsegg-Nygard would unleash a massive one-timer off a cross-ice pass that wound up bulging the twine top shelf over the netminder’s glove hand.

Describing the goal on the Skelleftea website, writer Samuel Soderlund called it “a magnificent shot signed by Brandsegg-Nygard, straight into the roof of the net.”

Late in regulation time, the Norwegian winger almost made it two goals. He would send a quick snap shot just wide of the net from the slot.

MBN very nearly gave Skellefteå the win in the dying seconds of regulation pic.twitter.com/hJgdURo6pO

— IcehockeyGifs (@IcehockeyG) August 16, 2024

Brandsegg-Nygard was in agreement with Yzerman’s assessment of the best asset he possesses within his skill set.

“Probably my shot,” Brandsegg-Nygard said. “I feel like I have a great shot.”

Playing for Norway at last spring’s IIHF World Championship, NHL veteran Mats Zuccarello, assigned to play on Brandsegg-Nygard’s line, also immediately recognized the teenager’s unique talent.

“He said to me just to keep my shots down,” Brandsegg-Nygard recalled. “He’s gonna pass the puck to me so I can shoot. That was the only thing he said.”

Red Wings Pick Sandin Pellikka Staying Home

There’s already been the revelation that Brandsegg-Nygard will be attending Red Wings camp next month. However, there’s been a debunking of a published report in Sweden suggesting defenseman Axel Sandin Pellikka, his Skelleftea teammate, would be joining him at camp.

That debunking came directly from the horse’s mouth. Sandin Pellikka says he’ll be staying in Sweden and won’t be at Wings camp. Detroit was selecting the Swedish rearguard 17th overall during the 2023 NHL entry draft.