The Detroit Red Wings have one game left to play in the NHL preseason. Rookies Axel Sandin Pellikka, Michael Brandsegg-Nygard, and Emmitt Finnie are all still with the team.
They aren’t simply filling a spot. They are demanding attention, shining in the spotlight.
Will one of them make the team?
Probably.
Could all of them make the team?
Perhaps.
Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman has always made it clear that he wants prospects to force their way onto the team. To demand a place with their performance on the ice.
Each of Finnie, Sandin Pellikka, and Brandsegg-Nygard is doing just that.
Two Points For Finnie
As the Red Wings rallied for a 3-1 win at Toronto over the Maple Leafs on Thursday, Finnie had a goal and an assist.
Finnished them off! pic.twitter.com/3QVZX1Lrvi
— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) October 3, 2025
He got the better of Leafs captain and former Hart Trophy winner Auston Matthews to pot the empty-net goal that clinched the victory.
Brandsegg-Nygard set up Alex DeBrincat for the eventual game winner. It was a clever, cross-crease, behind-the-back feed as he was falling to the ice.
He has five points in six preseason games.
— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) October 3, 2025
Sandin Pellikka worked the point of Detroit’s first power-play unit like a seasoned pro. He was consistently creative and ever dangerous.
Red Wings coach Todd McLellan recognizes the tough decisions he’ll be making over the next few days.
There are several factors he’ll be weighing
“From playing well, we have to look at two things,” McLellan said.” We have to look at who can help this team on opening night, but also maintain that and continue it through 82 games.
“And we’ve got to look at the roster construction, the number of roster spots that we have, where we want to be maybe a little deeper.”
Red Wings Demote 10 Players
Cutting the NHL roster to 28 players, the Red Wings assigned forwards Ondrej Becher, Sheldon Dries, John Leonard, Amadeus Lombardi, Dominik Shine, and Austin Watson, defensemen William Lagesson, Ian Mitchell, and Antti Tuomisto, and goaltender Sebastian Cossa to the AHL Grand Rapids Griffins.