Detroit Red Wings on Todd McLellan, season opener ahead
Detroit Red Wings Moritz Seider, Andrew Copp & Todd McLellan, Oct. 8, 2025 in Detroit.
Steve Yzerman – the man ultimately responsible for making roster decisions – described himself as “pleasantly surprised” that the Detroit Red Wings start the season with three rookies on the roster.
Michael Brandsegg-Nygård, Axel Sandin Pellikka and Emmitt Finnie were in the lineup on Thursday, Oct. 9, when the Wings began the 2025-26 season. The 20-year-olds earned spots after standout performances through the exhibition season, gradually convincing management that they were ready for the NHL.
“They’ve all looked good, so we felt that they’ve earned the opportunity and see if they can sustain it in the regular season, which we expect them to,” Yzerman said Thursday evening. “It was a very pleasant surprise that we weren’t necessarily expecting in the offseason.”
The Wings have tended to leave prospects in the minors till deemed well-and-ready for the NHL – last year, Marco Kasper was sent down after an outstanding camp, though he was recalled a week later – but this year, the three were on the 23-man roster from the start.
“Any young player, if we think they’re ready and we think they’re going to play and we meet with the coaching staff and what’s your plan, understanding the plan changes daily, but if they’re going to play and they’re ready to play, we’re more than happy to keep them,” Yzerman said.
‘They’ve been impressive. I’ve watched Finnie skate, and the poise and the smarts of Axel and his puck-handling skills back there. Michael’s shooting the puck and playing hard. He’s got a real element to his game. I think it’s obvious they’re talented young players. I’m hoping that translates now into the regular season. We’re expecting it, too, for all of them to have a positive impact.”
Contact Helene St. James at hstjames@freepress.com.
Read more on the Detroit Red Wings and sign up for our Red Wings newsletter. Her books: “The Franchise: Detroit Red Wings, A Curated History of Hockeytown,” and “On the Clock: Behind the Scenes with the Detroit Red Wings at the NHL Draft,” and “The Big 50: The Men and Moments that made the Detroit Red Wings” are available from Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Triumph Books. Personalized copies available via her e-mail.