Recap of the type of player Steve Yzerman drafted since his debut with Wings
The Detroit Red Wings selected Michael Brandsegg-Nygård with the 15th overall pick in the 2024 NHL draft.
This was a safe pick by general manager Steve Yzerman, but MBN is a talented player nonetheless. The Norway native is the first player from Norway drafted in the first round of the NHL draft. According to Max Bultman of The Athletic, this is the fifth straight year that Detroit has used a first-round pick on a player playing in Sweden. NHL Central Scouting described Brandsegg-Nygård as
Jonatan Berggren, another winger in the Red Wings system, uses his agility and vision to deliver pucks into dangerous areas on the ice. Berggren has had a mixed development since being drafted 33rd overall in 2018, scoring 56 points in 53 games for the Grand Rapids Griffins in 2023-24.
The Red Wings prospect pool features players who can reach soft areas of the ice and use a hard shot to beat goaltenders. Yzerman's first pick, Moritz Seider, won the Calder Trophy in 2021. Yzerman stated :
Notably, only first-round picks Seider, Lucas Raymond, and Marco Kasper have played NHL games thus far.
According to Jokke Nevalainen of Dobber Prospects, 74% of first-round draft picks go on to play significant time in the NHL, while that number falls to 34% for second-rounders. Brandsegg-Nygård needs to be successful for the Red Wings to strengthen their right side prospect pool. Charlie Forslund, drafted with the 176th pick in 2024, is currently the highest-ranked right-winger in their system, according to Elite Prospects.
Source: YardBarker
A Look at the Type of Player that Steve Yzerman Has Drafted As Red Wings General Manager
| POLL | ||
Are you happy with the way Steve Yzerman is drafting since his debut? | ||
| Yes | 140 | 78.2 % |
| No | 39 | 21.8 % |
| List of polls | ||
