The Athletic’s Max Bultman discusses the reasons why Emmitt Finnie, Michael Brandsegg-Nygard and Axel Sandin Pellikka have earned their places on the Red Wings’ opening-night roster:
When the Red Wings hit the ice for practice Monday with 23 skaters, 20-year-old seventh-round pick Emmitt Finnie was still skating on the top line next to Dylan Larkin and Lucas Raymond. 2024 first-round pick Michael Brandsegg-Nygård was on the third line with Andrew Copp and J.T. Compher. And 2023 first-round pick Axel Sandin-Pellikka was running the second power-play unit from the point, and looked to be skating with Simon Edvinsson on what could be the second defense pairing.
At the time of head coach Todd McLellan’s press conference, nobody was quite ready to say whether the three rookies had formally “made” the Red Wings. But the writing sure seemed to be on the wall.
“Well, they were here at practice today, so that’s a real good sign for them,” McLellan said. “We skated with 23 players. Obviously, we’re allowed to submit our opening roster with as many as 23, so that’s obviously a real good sign for them. Everything they’ve done to this point has led to them getting this day, and we’ll just take it day by day.”
Another strong indication came later Monday afternoon, when Detroit released its initial 23-man roster with all three rookies listed. A day earlier, the Red Wings had waived defensemen Justin Holl and Erik Gustafsson, and on Monday they assigned Holl to Grand Rapids.
So while we don’t yet know the Red Wings’ precise lineup for their season-opener Thursday night against the Montreal Canadiens, all the signs right now are pointing in the same direction.
“They’re really good kids, and I’m really excited for them,” Larkin said. “And I’m excited for our team because of them.”
Finnie, Brandsegg-Nygård and Sandin-Pellikka have indeed been a jolt of excitement, both in the Red Wings locker room and throughout the fan base. This is an organization that for years has operated with an abundance of patience in promoting its prospects, and so for three rookies to all come in and make the initial 23-man roster speaks volumes about what they were able to accomplish over the last three weeks.
Continued at length (paywall)
