Detroit Red Wings prospects eager to make impact in 2025-26 NHL season
Uh, I mean, uh, yeah, it’s it’s a little nerve-wracking, uh, you know, uh, um, it’s, uh, it’s a dream to be up here, uh, and I’m still here, so it must be a good sign so far. Um, yeah, we’ll see what happens. What would it mean to you to be on the roster? Uh, a lot. You know, this, uh, dream come true for every kid. Uh, I think, uh, ever since getting to know what the NHL is, that’s where you want to go. Uh um yeah, best on best hockey and you know it’s big dream come true. I know Todd and a couple of players have talked about how the veterans and the room have kind of really embraced the young guys. I mean how how much easier does that make it when you when you come into a room like that where everybody’s supportive of the younger guys coming in? Um yeah it’s awesome. uh you know since day one of camp here I feel like uh you know everyone’s talkative, everyone’s like getting into the group in in some sort of way. So uh you know it’s uh it’s comforting as a young guy coming in here. Uh you know uh yeah I wasn’t that nervous but you know there’s still some nerves coming into a whole new team, whole new locker room, new guys. So uh yeah. Yeah, it means means a lot. Did you skate with any of these guys over the summer or not so much? Uh Bergie came up to KFTO once uh for two three days or something like that and yeah that’s pretty much it him. Are you going to the Tigers game tomorrow if you’re here? I’m going to send Dill and there we’ll see. It would be it’ll be fun. I’ve been to one uh when they play the Mets I think. Yeah, they play the Mets. Uh so it’s fun. Uh Michael watch. And did you do anything with Michael yesterday for his birthday or I went for dinner actually uh some sushi place. So got him a little cake. Did you know much about baseball before you got here or? No, no, not not a lot. I’m still still learning about everything. Uh, umpire or Oh, sorry. Or strike strike or uh Yeah, all those kinds of stuff. I’m still learning anything yet. What’s that? Have you been told anything yet? No, I haven’t. No. What are the nerves like right now? I mean, of course you’re nervous. We want to play on Thursday and make the debuts, but right now we’re just trying to focus on every day like just be good in practice and like just keep going. What does it mean to you to still be here today? It means a lot. I mean, it’s pretty cool to be here and uh it’s been a dream. So hopefully I can just keep the spot. How realistic did you think that was coming into camp that like you know you could have a preseason like this and kind of still be in the smokes at this point? I didn’t expect it. No. But I mean, I know what I can do and I just try my best and see what comes out of it. I don’t know. What’s your phone like right now? Is you getting blown up by people wanting to know what’s going on? Yeah, I mean I get questions about if I heard anything, but I mean just trying to be in my own spot now and don’t try to focus on that. How about parents and family? Same way or are they asking you a lot of questions right now or? Yeah, I would say they do. uh they wouldn’t know if they’re going to come out Thursday or not. So, but I mean I told them that I will let them know if I heard anything. Todd and a couple of players have mentioned that the veterans in here have really embraced the young guys. How much does that help when you’re coming into a situation where you’re competing for spots when when you’re getting that kind of support? I mean, for me, it helps a lot. I mean, when they just come up and talk to me, it makes me more comfortable with being here. And I mean when you just just to be around there can be like a little nervous sometimes and every time they just come up to you and just talk to you it’s nice. So yeah. Are you looking forward to potentially going to a Tigers game tomorrow? I understand there may be a team outing. Probably. I know uh if some of the guys going to go go probably. Are you going to go if you’re here or if I’m here? Yeah, probably. Have you been to one before or? Yeah. Okay. And your birthday yesterday? How was that? Did that was nice. Actual take you out. I hear I was out in onuzu ate the sushi with Finian fell. So that was nice. If you do get the good word, how many people would have these things? What’s that? If you do get the good word, how many people are planning to come or hoping to come? I have no idea. Maybe I’m no mom, dad, sister, girlfriend, my girlfriend’s dad, maybe a couple of friends. I don’t know, maybe some of my old coaches. I don’t know. Feel I’ve shown a lot. Um, you know, I came into camp feeling good and uh, you know, I had the mindset coming in here, I was just going to take it one day at a time and work as hard as I can and see where it gets me. So, um, you know, to be in this position right now is is pretty cool. Say surprised myself. Um, you know, I’ve always been a confident person and, you know, feel like I could play at this level. So, um you know, seeing myself here is definitely wasn’t surprising, but um you know, it feels good to be
Detroit Red Wings Axel Sandin Pellikka, Michael Brandsegg-Nygård & Emmitt Finnie speak Oct. 6, 2025 in Detroit as the Red Wings gear up for the 2025-26 NHL season, beginning Thursday. Video by Helene St. James, DFP.
More on the Red Wings’ rookies: https://www.freep.com/story/sports/nhl/red-wings/2025/10/06/detroit-red-wings-breakout-prospects-michael-brandsegg-nygrd-axel-sandin-pellikka-emmitt-finnie/86551130007/
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