The Detroit Red Wings’ long-term investment in their prospect pipeline is beginning to pay dividends, as one of their most promising young talents is set to make his NHL debut. The Axel Sandin-Pellikka era has officially arrived.
And not to sound cocky, we, at Octopus Thrower, predicted this would happen along with other elements at play. 24 hours ago, the Wings announced they were waiving a slew of players, including defensemen Erik Gustafsson and Justin Holl, officially paving the way for Sandin-Pellikka's long-anticipated arrival at the highest level of hockey. We said in a recent story that it seemed highly unlikely for Holl to make the starting lineup, and that came to fruition.
Earlier Monday, both Gustafsson and Holl cleared waivers. This means they can be assigned to the AHL’s Grand Rapids Griffins. If they aren’t, the team has a month or 10 NHL games before they are forced to clear waivers a second time.
Axel Sandin-Pellikka is ready
The writing was on the wall the moment Detroit capped its preseason with a thrilling overtime victory against the Toronto Maple Leafs. Heading into that final game, the lingering question was whether Axel Sandin-Pellikka could do enough to secure a spot on the Red Wings’ opening night roster—or whether he’d begin the year in Grand Rapids.
The answers were emphatic: yes, he could, and no, he won’t. Sandin-Pellikka tallied two assists in the 6–5 win, while Michael Brandsegg-Nygård added a pair of goals to punctuate the night.
The implications for Detroit extend well beyond one roster decision. Sandin-Pellikka’s emergence signals to the rest of the league that the Red Wings’ youth movement is accelerating. His success serves as both a statement and a spark, setting a high bar for the organization’s next wave of talent—names like Carter Bear, Nate Danielson, Carter Mazur, and Sebastian Cossa.
Wings starter is pumped about Sandin-Pellikka's arrival
Throughout training camp and the preseason, most of the Red Wings’ regulars were entrenched on the ice, but one starter—Simon Edvinsson—had a unique vantage point. While rehabbing an injury, Edvinsson had the chance to observe Sandin-Pellikka up close, and he came away impressed.
Once healthy, Edvinsson joined Sandin-Pellikka on a defensive pairing during the preseason finale against Toronto, and the chemistry between the two was immediate. That connection carried over into Monday’s practice, where the duo continued to build on their early rapport.
Like Sandin-Pellikka, Edvinsson made the jump from Europe and initially faced challenges adapting to the North American game. But Edvinsson suggested that Sandin-Pellikka may be ahead of the curve, noting how quickly the young defenseman is adjusting compared to his own experience. His comments hinted at a belief that Sandin-Pellikka’s ceiling might be even higher than many initially anticipated.
“There were times where I was lost on the dots, where to be, and he’s picked that up quickly and when he’s had to adjust, I can just tell him I dealt with the same thing,” Edvinsson said. “And I think with that, he knows what to do up the ice.”
Moritz Seider remains the cornerstone of Detroit’s blue line, but the organization’s trajectory suggests that, with continued development, the Red Wings could soon boast one of the strongest and deepest defensive corps in the NHL. Considering where the team stood just a few seasons ago, such a transformation would be nothing short of remarkable.
HOCKEY IS BACK
The Red Wings kick off the regular season Thursday night against the Montreal Canadiens at Little Caesars Arena. Puck drop is at 7 p.m. local time.