Is Brandsegg-Nygard close to pro-ready and a possibility for the Flyers? originally appeared in NBC Sports Philadelphia
Despite making it through most of the 2023-24 season, the Flyers still have a rebuilding mentality. The club’s decision-makers know there is a need for more talent and that the early draft remains the best way to acquire it.
“The majority of it still needs to be done through our young guys, especially through the draft,” general manager Danny Briere said in April.
The Flyers will have a good opportunity to boost their future when the 2024 NHL Draft arrives June 28-29 at the Sphere in Las Vegas. The first round is Friday at 7pm ET, while rounds 2 through 7 take place on Saturday starting at 11:30am ET.
Like last summer, the Flyers have 10 picks, including two first-round picks. Barring a negotiation, they will make their best overall selection at 12th position. Briere believes the Flyers “can get a very talented player” at that position.
In the first round of the 2023 draft, the Flyers attacked Matvei Michkov in the 7th position It is grabbed Oliver Bonk in 22nd place. They should also have two 2025 first-round picks.
Ahead of the 2024 draft, we’re breaking down the targets for the Flyers at No. 12.
Next:
Michael Brandsegg-Nygard
Position: Extreme
Height: 6-foot-1
Weight: 207
Photos: Right
Team: Mora IK
Scouting Report
The 18-year-old Norwegian is built like a pro and plays like a pro. With real courage for puck battles and the owner of a big shot, Brandsegg-Nygard has a game that can climb a lineup.
Playing against men in HockeyAllsvenskan, a Swedish professional league that is one tier below the SHL, Brandsegg-Nygard recorded 18 points (eight goals, 10 assists) and a plus-3 rating in 41 games this season for Mora IK. After playing 14:20 minutes per game in the regular season, he saw 17:29 during the playoffs and tallied 10 points (four goals, six assists) in 12 games.
“He’s one of those players who already plays a mature game, plays a pro-level game,” Dan Marr, vice president of NHL Central Scouting, said more than three weeks ago in a phone interview with NBC Sports Philadelphia. “And he’s been playing professional hockey. He understands the game, where he makes smart plays, makes smart decisions where he can maybe make a difference on a play.”
Brandsegg-Nygard has also stood out on the international stage. At the 2024 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship last month, he recorded five points (three points, two assists) in seven games for Norway. In the winter, at the 2024 IIHF World Junior Championship, he also had five points (three goals, two assists) in five games.
The knock on Brandsegg-Nygard may be its lack of advantages. Some teams may prefer higher ceilings on first-round picks. But there’s nothing wrong with a prospect who plays the game the right way. Winning teams want these pieces.
NHL Central Scouting has Brandsegg-Nygard as the fifth European skater. He is considered the 16th best prospect in the draft by EliteProspects. withwhile TSN Craig Button he is in 18th place.
“He doesn’t come at you with a lot of flash or bang or anything like that, but he has the hockey IQ to be a very strong two-way forward,” Marr said. “His maturity level and composure are extraordinary, so he might be a little more pro-ready than a lot of players in this draft class. It will be intriguing to see where teams consider him because you are drafting someone here who will have a short stint in the National Hockey League.”
Adjustment with leaflets
The Flyers should absolutely like Brandsegg-Nygard’s size and style. And moving up quickly is never a bad thing, especially with a rebuilding team that is asking younger players to push for their roster.
Brandsegg-Nygard would give the Flyers some scoring potential in the system and a possible Swiss Army Knife.
But it’s important to note that the Flyers wanted to take bigger hits in the first round, starting last summer. At 12th overall, they could try to find a player with more prolific attributes. Everything will depend on how the board manages the Flyers.
More targets
• Flyers should like Helenius, ‘one of the draft’s biggest talents’
• Flyer draft target Catton has ‘ingredients’ to be top-tier center
• Flyers could have shot Yakemchuk, a defender with ‘rare combination’
• Flyers draft target Iginla has impressive NHL pedigree and ‘very high ceiling’
• Eiserman, ‘the best scorer in this draft’, an option for the Flyers?
• ‘The complete package’ Connelly has an interesting draft for Flyers
• With no real flaws in his game, Jiricek is an option for the Flyers at No. 12
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