Michael Brandsegg-Nygård is Being Mocked to Flyers

Michael Brandsegg-Nygård is a name that Flyers fans may have to start getting used to hearing. If you look at several NHL mock drafts, he is a name beginning to appear for the Flyers at #12 overall. There's a good reason for that.

The 18-year-old Norwegian is six feet tall and around 200 lbs. He is a right winger who has a hard slapshot. He is also raw. He could be it if you are looking for someone who could be a force in another year or two. He has a shot at becoming the highest-ranked Norwegian ever selected in the NHL draft (the previous high was Marius Holtet in 2002 by the Stars. He never played in the NHL)

In 2022-23, he starred for Mora IK Jr in the Swedish Jr. League. In 35 games, he scored 17 goals with 21 assists. This year, he bounced back and forth between the junior and first-division Mora IK teams. He took a step back, scoring just 13 goals in the 58 combined games, but 41 of those games were against the better competition. In this year's under-20 international competition, he scored three goals with two assists in five games for Norway.

Hockey Scout Frederick Fransen had this to say about Brandsegg-Nygård: 

"Brandsegg-Nygård might be a two-way power forward, but his best strength is his unbelievable shot. It’s a mix of raw and heavy power and a quick release. It comes off the blade in a flash and is extremely hard to read. Add to that the power behind it and it’s not a wonder he has people in Norway calling him their Ovechkin. .... In terms of a versatile and complete two-way player in the 2024 NHL draft, none are more ready than Michael Brandsegg-Nygård. While his skating and poise with the puck does require some work, he is nearly ready for the NHL already. This is due to his amazing hockey sense and amazing adaptability. "

Another scout, Jesse Courville-Lynch of the Hockey Writers, said this:

"Brandsegg-Nygård might be one of the most complete players in the upcoming 2024 NHL Entry Draft. While some players usually have one strength with their offensive game that stands out to many scouts, he has several strengths and doesn’t neglect any of them. It also helps that he is viewed as one of the strongest defensive-minded forwards in the upcoming draft, so translating his game from Europe to North America shouldn’t be too difficult.....Brandsegg-Nygård is one of my favorite prospects heading into the upcoming draft. He should be able to find himself a home as a second-line forward if he can translate his game from Europe to North America, and continue playing a solid two-way game when given the opportunity at the NHL level."

He could be someone the Flyers select if he is available when they draft. He could end up being a long-term replacement for Scott Laughton or Sean Couturier. And if he had a career as long as they did, that wouldn't be a bad investment.