Breaking: Flyers Closing In On Deal To Sign $4.5 Million Right Winger As Long-Term Replacement For Sean Couturier

Flyers fans may need to get accustomed to hearing the name Michael Brandsegg-Nygård. According to multiple NHL mock drafts, he is emerging as a potential #12 pick for the Flyers. There’s good reason for this.

The 18-year-old Norwegian is six feet tall and weighs about 200 pounds. He is a right winger with a powerful slap shot. He’s also raw. If you’re looking for someone who can be a force in a year or two, he might be the one. He has the potential to become the highest-ranked Norwegian ever taken in the NHL draft, surpassing the previous record set by Marius Holtet in 2002 by the Stars. He’s never played in the NHL.

In 2022-23, he played for Mora IK Jr in the Swedish Jr. League. In 35 games, he had 17 goals and 21 assists. This year, he alternated between Mora IK’s junior and first division squads. He took a step back, scoring only 13 goals in 58 total games, but 41 of those were against superior competition.In this year’s under-20 international campaign, he scored three goals and assisted twice in five games for Norway.

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

“Brandsegg-Nygård is a versatile power forward who excels at shooting. It’s a combination of raw and heavy power with a rapid release. It falls off the blade quickly and is exceedingly difficult to read. Add in the power, and it’s no surprise that many in Norway refer to him as their Ovechkin. Michael Brandsegg-Nygård is the most versatile and complete two-way player in the 2024 NHL draft. While his skating and puck control need some work, he is almost ready for the NHL already. “This is due to his incredible hockey sense and adaptability.”

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

“Brandsegg-Nygård may be one of the most complete players in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft.” While some players have a single offensive strength that stands out to evaluators, he has several and does not overlook any of them. It also helps that he is regarded as one of the best defensive-minded forwards in the 2017 draft, so transitioning his style from Europe to North America should be simple…..Brandsegg-Nygård is one of my favorite draft prospects. He should be able to find a place as a second-line forward if he can adapt his game from Europe to North America and continue to play a competent two-way game when given the opportunity in the NHL.”

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