National Hockey League recruits Norwegian talent

Best friends Michael Brandsegg-Nygård and Stian Solberg taken in first round draft

Photo: Wang / handout / NTB
Best friends defenseman Stian Solberg (left) and winger Michael Brandsegg-Nygård, 18, pose before the NHL draft in Las Vegas, June 28.

Michael Kleiner
Business & Sports Editor
The Norwegian American

A few years ago, Matts Zuccarello said Norway needed to invest more in hockey and accepted himself as a role model. What transpired at the National Hockey League (NHL) draft June 28-29 in Las Vegas could be the first signs of change.

Right wing Michael Brandsegg-Nygård and defenseman Stian Solberg, both 18, were drafted in the first round, the first Norwegians ever drafted in the first round. Nygård was selected  by the Detroit Red Wings storied franchise with the 15th pick, while the Anaheim Ducks made a trade with the Toronto Maple Leafs to move up eight spots to draft Solberg with the 23rd pick.

The Norwegian imprint on the draft continued the following day in the sixth round when defenseman Ludvig Lafton, 18, was selected by Utah (née Arizona Coyotes) with the 190th pick, while the Tampa Bay Lightning snatched right wing Noah Steen, 19, at 199 in the seventh round.

“It’s quite an accomplishment for a Norwegian player to be considered as a first-round selection,” NHL Central Scouting Director Dan Marr said on the Red Wings blog. “Nygård and Solberg have great futures ahead of them.”

Norway has had 24 players drafted. Forward Marius Holtet was the highest Norwegian drafted, taken in the second round of the 2002 draft (No. 42 overall) by the Dallas Stars. Goalies Lars Volden (No. 181, Boston Bruins) and Steffen Soberg (No. 117, Washington Capitals) were chosen in the 2011 NHL Draft. Espen Knutsen, drafted in the 10th round (No. 204) by the Hartford Whalers (now Carolina Hurricanes) in 1990), played the most games of a drafted Norwegian (207). Zuccarello is the most successful, but he was undrafted.

What they represent to Norway is not lost on the teenagers.

“Getting drafted means a lot,” the 6-1, 207-pound Brandsegg-Nygård said on nhl.com. “When I heard my name, I got an energy boost in my whole body. This has been a dream for me for so long. I have reached my dream. I’m just going to keep going and hopefully be an NHL player soon.

“The regional hockey in Norway is getting more professional. We have a good group of guys in Norway my age and younger. I idolized Mats Zuccarello growing up. It’s cool being a role model for young players back in Norway and to help hockey be more popular [there.”

“It was a big moment for me and my family and all Norwegian hockey fans,” Solberg, who is 6-1, 205 pounds, said on nhl.com. “I’m never going to forget it. The country has been investing more time and effort in hockey and we have more beautiful rinks. The younger generation in Norway is getting better. Hopefully, we can be role models for the younger guys and be players they can look up to.”

Brandsegg-Nygård and Solberg are best friends, having grown up in Oslo and playing for the Vålerenga club at different age groups. Solberg played 42 games with the Eliteserien Vålerenga this season and had five goals, 10 assists, and added seven assists in the playoffs. Solberg had the fourth-most points by an Under-19 defenseman in EliteHockey Ligaen history. He also played for Vålerenga in 2022-2023.

Photo: Anaheim Ducks / Tyler Pistoia / Getty Images
Defenseman Stian Solberg, 18, dons Anaheim Ducks jersey after being selected in the first round in Las Vegas.

Solberg signed his three-year entry deal but will play for Swedish Hockey League (SHL) defending regular season champion Färjestad in 2024-2025.

Brandsegg-Nygård spent 2023-2024 with Mora in Sweden’s second division Allsvenskan, contributing eight goals, 10 assists in 41 regular-season games, then set a record for most points (10; four goals, six assists in 12 playoff games) by a draft-eligible player in a single Allsvenskan postseason. He contributed 12 points in seven games (5-7) with Mora’s U-20 squad. He’s heading to Skelleftea in the SHL for 2024-2025.

Solberg was the second youngest, Brandsegg-Nygård the third youngest, to play in the 2024 IIHF World Championships in Czechia, when they suited up for Norway.

“Stian came to me when I was going up to the stage, so it was pretty cool to hug him,” Brandsegg-Nygård said. “We are each other’s biggest supporters,”

“I think [Brandsegg-Nygård] was doing interviews when I was picked but I know he’s really happy for me and I’m really happy for him,” said Solberg, who noted there were around 15 Norwegians at the draft with whom they could celebrate. “It wasn’t a competition … maybe a little bit. That’s how it is when you’re 18 and best friends. We’re going to enjoy the night and take it all in.”

The teams are happy to have them. A few days after the draft, teams have a five-day developmental camp.

“I think there is more to come for him (Solberg),“ said Ducks Assistant GM and Director of Amateur Scouting Martin Madden on the team website. “The way he ran the power play in the world championship cannot be dismissed. He is a hard-nosed physical defender first, but with that mobility, that poise and that unbelievable self-confidence, he’s going to be a leader on our team. There’s no doubt about that.”

Detroit Executive Vice President and General Manager Steve Yzerman was effusive about Brandsegg-Nygård on the team website: “He’s physically developed, a goal-scoring winger, a really good two-way player. Obviously, he fills a void in our prospect pool. When he’s not scoring, he’ll still be an effective player. He’s a guy who can play in all situations. I watched him play a really good U.S. team in the international tournament. He was strong enough to play against that team. Most importantly, in games against NHL players, he could keep up.”

The 6-2, 183-pound Lafton contributed four assists in 16 contests for Färjestad Jr. in the Swedish Junior League and saw action in five games for Norway in the 2024 U-20 World Junior Championships.

The Lightning traded with Utah to obtain the 199th pick, which they used to select the 6-1, 192-pound Steen, who scored 14 goals in 40 games for Mora.

“Norway has very highly developed training methods in other sports, which they can make use of in hockey,” NHL Director of European Scouting Jukka-Pekka Vuorinen said on nhl.com. “Several guys go to play in Sweden at a young age. Brandsegg-Nygård is already physically and mentally a high-level athlete compared to his peers, playing there the past two seasons.

“Solberg earned his stripes mainly at his own rinks. He played better, and everybody’s eyes were opened during the World Championship. Norway has always produced a decent number of players to European rinks, but less stardom. Hopefully [Brandsegg-Nygard and Solberg] will show a new way

This article originally appeared in the September 2024 issue of  The Norwegian American.