The Detroit Red Wings have placed two veteran defensemen on waivers, which clears space for the prospects who delivered such strong performances during exhibition season.
The waiver list around the NHL on Sunday, Oct. 5 was a large one, because teams have to turn in their 23-man rosters by 5 p.m. Oct. 6. The Wings waived Justin Holl and Erik Gustafsson, which means they can be sent to the minors if they clear.
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It was the play of Michael Brandsegg-Nygård, Axel Sandin Pellikka and Emmitt Finnie that forced the Wings to think hard about who should be on that roster – not that the Oct. 6 list is etched in stone; things can change by the time the Wings open the season Oct. 9 against the Montreal Canadiens.
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That Holl, 33 and in the last year of a three-year deal that carries a $3.4 million annual average value, ended up on waivers is little surprise – the Wings waived him last October, too. But Gustafsson (33 and in the last season of a two-year deal worth $2 million per season) landed on waivers sure seems to indicate Sandin Pellikka will be on the team. Gustafsson was brought in via free agency in 2024 to run the second power play – but quarterbacking a man-advantage is one of Sandin Pellikka’s top assets, as he showed in the preseason. The Wings also have Edvinsson available to play that role.
Waiving Holl and Gustaffson leaves the Wings with six defensemen: Moritz Seider, Ben Chiarot, Simon Edvinsson, Albert Johansson, and newcomers Jacob Bernard-Docker and Travis Hamonic. Sandin Pellikka played his last exhibition game partnered with Albert Johansson, while Bernard-Docker partnered with Edvinsson.
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The Wings were off Sunday.
Tommy Novak of the Pittsburgh Penguins splits the defense of Justin Holl and Erik Gustafsson of the Detroit Red Wings during a preseason game at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit on Monday, Sept. 29, 2025.
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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Red Wings place Justin Holl, Erik Gustafsson on waivers