Half of Red Wings Roster May Be Yzerman Draft Picks

The 2026-27 Detroit Red Wings may be coming to you with added freshness built in.

GM Steve Yzerman’s team, which seemed a bit stale when it missed the playoffs for a ninth consecutive season last spring, is considering awarding roster spots to Michael Brandsegg-Nygard, Axel Sandin Pellikka and Emmitt Finnie.

“They’re energizing the group right now, really,” Detroit coach Todd McLellan. “…the guys are rooting for them. There’s a little life there that they get excited for them.”

Helped significantly by their younger players, the Red Wings were energized Saturday night when they rallied from a two-goal deficit in the final 2:41 of regulation to beat the Toronto Maple Leafs 6-5 in overtime in the final preseason game for both teams.

“Sometimes that takes (veterans) back to your first year, your first game,” McLellan said. “Maybe you’re Ben Chiarot or Dylan Larkin. And you played so many years, but it can take you back and you remember what it was like. And it’s invigorating.”

Swedish defenseman Axel Sandin Pellikka had the primary assist on Dylan Larkin‘s overtime goal and Norwegian forward Michael Brandsegg-Nygard netted a pair of goals. Emmitt Finnie wasn’t on the scoresheet but was noticeable on most of his shifts. They all may be Red Wings on Monday.

Albert Johansson, only in his second NHL season, scored with 31 seconds remaining in regulation to force overtime”

With four goals and three assists in seven games, Brandsegg-Nygard should be a lock to make the team. But it is plausible that all three will be named to the team by 5 p.m. Monday.  To add all three to the roster, GM Steve Yzerman will have drop a veteran or two. Perhaps someone is going on the injured list. This is the time when maneuvering to set your roster become critical.  Last year, Yzerman put Justin Holl on waivers to send him to the AHL. Will he do that again to make room for Sandin Pellikka?

Emmitt Finnie boasts four points, and Sandin Pellikka has three assists. When the overtime started, McLellan had Sandin Pellikka on the ice with Larkin and Lucas Raymond for the start of three-on-three play.

If all three make the team, the roster will have six of Yzerman’s first-round picks (Moritz Seider, Lucas Raymond, Simon Edvinsson, Marco Kasper, Sandin Pellikka and Brandsegg-Nygard), plus second-round pick Johansson, sixth rounder Elmer Soderblom and seventh rounder Finnie.

Essentially, half of the forwards and defenseman will be Yzerman draft picks. Plus, Nate Danielson, William Wallinder and Amadeus Lombardi are close to being ready.

Won’t Know Until Monday

It will be a couple of sleepless nights for the three.  Brandsegg-Nygard and Sandin Pellikka room together. Hence, they share the anxiety.

“There’s nervousness, too,” McLellan said. “They lay down in bed, they don’t know, ‘Am I going to make it? Am I not going to make it. Where to a fit in ? They are phoning home. Their buddies are calling. There’s a lot of anxiety. Maybe when they come to the rink, they let it all go and play.”

They have all showed considered poise in their seven preseason games, but that doesn’t mean they know where they stand.

“I have no clue,” Sandin Pellikka said. “We’ll see. Probably won’t get that much sleep. Just think about what will happen. I’m ready for whatever and we’ll see what happens.”

Brandsegg-Nygard always looks comfortable going to the net. He seems amused that is listed among his many skills.

I feel like I played hockey for my whole life so I know where to net is,” he said.