Detroit Red Wings: Why these are last 3 prospects standing in camp
Detroit Red Wings Michael Brandsegg-Nygård, Axel Sandin Pellikka, Emmitt Finnie & Todd McLellan, Oct. 3, 2025 in Detroit.
The Detroit Red Wings gave their big three prospects one last look as the preseason came to an end.
Forwards Michael Brandsegg-Nygård and Emmitt Finnie and defenseman Axel Sandin Pellikka made one last push to show they belong as the Wings hosted the Maple Leafs on Saturday, Oct. 4 at Little Caesars Arena. Most of the Wings’ lineup was made up of their regulars, while the Toronto Maple Leafs left most of theirs at home.
The Wings struggled at times, especially John Gibson, but a large surge pulled them even on Albert Johansson’s goal with 29.7 seconds remaining. The Wings went on to win, 6-5 in overtime on Dylan Larkin’s second goal of the game.
A bright spot came early: Brandsegg-Nygård scored his third goal by going to the net and redirecting the puck past Dennis Hildeby midway through the first period. Another one came late: Brandsegg-Nygård ripping a one-timer off a setup by Sandin Pellikka on a power play to pull the Wings within a goal. Brandsegg-Nygård, the team’s top pick, at No. 15, in 2024, finished the preseason with team highs in goals (four) and points (seven) in seven appearances.
Finnie played another game on the top line with Larkin and Lucas Raymond, while Sandin Pellikka, a superb puck handler with great vision, was partnered with Albert Johansson on the blue line. Sandin Pellikka also ran the second power play unit.
The Leafs went ahead, 2-1, on a goal from Logan Shaw at 15:57 and a shorthanded one from Nicholas Robertson at 17:45, during was a less than stellar first period for the Wings.
They had much more jump to start the second, and drew even on a Patrick Kane goal five minutes in. But they got into a challenging stretch soon after, with Michael Rasmussen (tripping), Marco Kasper (delay of game) and Mason Appleton (delay of game) taking cascading penalties that left the Wings two skaters down for a 3:41 minutes consecutively.
The penalty killers held off the Leafs during that stretch, but surrendered an unassisted goal on a breakaway to Michael Pezzetta at 16:03 of the second period. It wasn’t a good night for Gibson, who got beat again within a minute on a clean shot from Alexander Nylander that hit the crossbar and went in to give the Leafs a two-goal advantage. Gibson gave up another bad goal, to Cedric Paré, shortly after Brandsegg-Nygård’s second goal.
Dylan Larkin converted during a 5-on-3 to pull the Wings witihin a goal with 2:41 to play, set up by Sandin Pellikka.
The Wings open the regular season Oct. 9 (7 p.m., FanDuel Sports Network Detroit) at home against the Montreal Canadiens.
Contact Helene St. James at hstjames@freepress.com. Read more on the Detroit Red Wings and sign up for our Red Wings newsletter.