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On the road again! 

My sister and I ventured to Plymouth, Michigan, for a set of summer games as part of the Four Nations. 

Relaying my excitement about Axel Sandin Pellikka headlining the games along the two-hour drive likely drove her crazy, but I couldn’t wait. Also, splurging for the front-row seats behind the goalie was the cherry on top.

Much like Spongebob on his best day ever, things didn’t go as planned. During the journey to Plymouth, I learned that Sandin Pellikka wouldn’t play in the game that we were attending. Oh well, at least we had another player in the game—one Anton Johansson. One catch: I had no clue what he looked like as I had slacked on researching the later-round picks (shame on me). 

We get to the rink, and it’s a lovely facility. However, I will say their front-row seats should come with a warning. 

As we sat down, we realized we were a little too close to the ice for comfort. Our knees didn’t just graze the boards; it was like an economy seat on a modern airplane. For the record, I have very short legs for my height, but it usually isn’t a problem, even on these tightly packed airplanes. Yet, I was still hitting the rink. Meanwhile, my dandy long-legged sister was really having issues. Not to mention us rather large individuals, blocked the poor kids’ views a couple of rows back from us. We felt terrible.

The only thing making this trip worthwhile is a Swedish player seeing us in our Red Wings gear. A huge grin gleamed across his face. 

After the first period was over, my sister and I moved to another section over and a few rows back. More room to spread out and we no longer blocked children from the great game that unfolded before us.

I can’t say enough good things about the experience. Great hockey, a fun arena, terrific atmosphere with reasonable prices. 

Grand Rapids Griffins look back

Meanwhile, as the Red Wings organization geared up for its new season, I’d be lying if I said the restocking of the Grand Rapids Griffins cupboards in the American Hockey League (AHL) didn’t leave something to be desired. 

Instead of having a handful of new prospects join the fold (except Shai Buium, who filled a vacancy left by Simon Edvinsson or Albert Johansson—big shoes to fill), they really only brought in veterans to refill the veteran vacancy spots. 

Jakub Rychlovský, Alexandre Doucet, and Ondrej Becher are all exciting young players. Yet, I couldn’t help but think the Griffins needed even more help than what they were given. 

After seeing Maro Kasper in the second half of the season and AHL playoffs, it was crystal clear that he wouldn’t be around long if at all, next season. Elmer Söderblom hadn’t quite hit his stride, but it seemed like a now-or-never year for the Towering Behemoth. Thankfully, Söderblom took off—a bit too well for the Griffins to keep him all season.

William Wallinder and Antti Tuomisto have promising moments, and I had hoped their consistency would pick up a bit more. To some degree, it has. My view is obscured from the previous set of defensemen coming through (Moritz Seider, Albert Johansson, and Simon Edvinsson), so it’s not a fair view or comparison to make. Yet, my brain still makes it. Both have moments of brilliance. Hopefully, these two can bring a bit more consistency as the Grand Rapids Griffins march toward the playoffs. Buium should get more comfortable and move up the prospect ladder pretty quickly.

Eemil Viro has always been a favorite of mine to watch. He’s a spunky fella who I wish more teammates would follow. Viro is 

Then, the organization over-signed goaltenders who only stood in the way of Sebastian Cossa’s (and other young goaltending prospects’) development path(s), which I’ll get to eventually. 

All I can say is that I was disappointed in the moves (or lack of moves) made to help Grand Rapids this season.

The Detroit Red Wings organization is finally getting some help from the Grand Rapids Griffins, and there may be help on the way for the big club, too.

Detroit Red Wings prospect heading to Grand Rapids

Aside from two Skellefteå of the Swedish Hockey League (SHL) players that we will get to, another name is officially heading to the Grand Rapids Griffins.

Anton Johansson, not to be confused with Albert, is a bit larger. Standing at 6’4 and weighing in just under 200 lbs, Anton is a feisty Swede. Not quite the typical mold we’ve seen in terms of physicality, Anton provides a well-rounded game that I have grown accustomed to with Swedish defensemen. 

I remember my first glimpse of Anton. He’s the one who broke into a huge smile after seeing my sister and me in our Red Wings gear in Plymouth.

Since my introduction to Anton, I’ve loved watching him play in world tournaments or if I can sneak a peak at an SHL game. 

Anton signed a two-year contract with Leksands IF of the SHL in January 2025. However, the contract has an “out” clause and he says, “The idea is that I’m going over and trying it, and if I don’t succeed, I have to come here again, and that feels…fun” per George Malik of The Malik Report. 

For both parties involved, it’s an ideal situation.

Most importantly, Anton has a bit of a bite to his game. I’m not sure that he will ever get the most out of playing in a league like the SHL or international hockey as he’s a bit too physical at times. For the AHL and NHL, his physicality will be welcomed with open arms. 

Of course, physicality isn’t the only thing demanded of Anton. He will need to show his skills as a reliable defender. 

According to Elite Prospects, in 46 games with Leksands IF this season, he scored five goals and assisted on five goals for 10 points. His eye-popping 50 penalty minutes demonstrate a need for a bit more discipline in Anton’s game (or possibly a change of scenery, as the SHL has different rules for penalties). 

The previous season saw him play in 46 regular season games where he scored three times and assisted on five goals for eight points. He only recorded 16 penalty minutes. In the playoffs, he skated in seven games and recorded two goals with two assists for four points.

Anton may not play consistently. I remember when Buium joined the team at the end of the regular season last year, but he played only one game. The rest of the time, including the playoffs, he watched from the sidelines. Coming from the SHL, another professional league—likely in the world’s top three or four hockey leagues, Anton has a leg up as he gets set to steal a spot in the Griffins lineup. 

Anton will likely play some games for the Grand Rapids Griffins, return home but be back in time to attend development camp and maybe even training camp (playing in some preseason games wouldn’t shock me either, similar to what Michael Brandsegg-Nygård did last season). If he doesn’t stick with the Red Wings, he’s likely headed back to the SHL for another season. 

The adjustment on the ice would be more difficult if it weren’t for the international games Anton has played in where he’s experienced the smaller ice. Off the ice will be the bigger challenge, but he has Wallinder and Gabriel Seger as Swedes who can help him adjust. Of course, other guys will help as well.

I’m also interested in seeing how Brian Lashoff, the legendary Griffins defensive coach, helps Anton develop his game overall.

After starting behind the eight-ball to begin the season, then Detroit raiding their cupboards all season, any help is welcomed. With the way that Anton plays and the impact that I expect from him, Griffins’ teammates, coaches, and fans will be ecstatic. Regardless of how long Anton’s stay is, the Griffins are certainly happy for the extra help. 

There may be even more help on the horizon as well.

An early playoff exit for Skellefteå AIK might equal help for the Griffins or Red Wings

Although we don’t root for early playoff exits for the Red Wings’ prospects in their respective leagues, it’s difficult not to hope for a late-season appearance from Brandsegg-Nygård and/or Axel Sandin Pellikka for either the Griffins or Red Wings, depending on how each team’s seasons go.

Brandsegg-Nygård is a modern power-forward-style player. A hard-nosed, no-nonsense-type player who has a wicked shot and a great offensive mind for the game. His season in the Swedish Hockey League (SHL) isn’t going as well as we had hoped. All things considered, though, Brandsegg-Nygård is developing well. I think his game will take off once he gets to North America (regardless of the league). His physical game lends itself well to either the National Hockey League (NHL) or AHL.

In the SHL, he’s required to play a bit more reserved and restricted. Also, the amount of marathon skating required on the big ice surface doesn’t lend itself well to Brandsegg-Nygård’s game either. The tighter spaces and the condensed offensive zone time (where almost anywhere in the zone can lead to a scoring chance) seem to favor his game. 

I thought last season, he might actually make a push for the NHL. Or, if he played in Grand Rapids, then he might be recalled to the NHL midway through the season. It seems that Brandsegg-Nygård was more comfortable with Skellefteå AIK. It’s a terrific organization, so I see why. I can’t help but wonder if it has stagnated his development (not by Skellefteå AIK’s own doing, but just the fit of Brandsegg-Nygård seems a bit off). Brandsegg-Nygård’s development likely isn’t hindered. He’s learned a lot there, I’m sure. Also, taking a detour in development has only seemed to help the Red Wings prospects.

On the other hand, fellow SHL teammate Sandin Pellikka is breaking records for young defensemen in the SHL:

We’re huge fans of Sandin Pellikka here. His performance at the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) Men’s World Junior Championships only solidified the love we have for Sandin Pellikka.

Sandin Pellikka has soared since being drafted in 2023 at 17th overall. Not just an offensive defenseman, Sandin Pellikka doesn’t abandon his defensive responsibilities. 

Red Wings fans have (rightfully so) drooled over Sandin Pellikka even before the team drafted him, so we are impatiently waiting for him to play in North America. Although it might take a bit longer than we all would like, once he arrives in North America, he’s likely to improve any team he joins. 

There are ideas floating around that Sandin Pellikka isn’t likely to join the Red Wings if they are in playoff contention. I can definitely see how the playoff race might shape Sandin Pellikka’s chances of seeing ice time in the NHL. If the current team (especially with the injuries that are piling up) is close to or in a playoff spot if/when Sandin Pellikka is able to head over to North America, it would be difficult to pull a defenseman out of the lineup.

We can criticize a guy like Justin Holl, the most likely candidate to come out if Sandin Pellikka joins the mix, but if he’s part of the solution that drives the Detroit Red Wings toward playoff contention, it’s likely that our head coach Todd McLellan won’t swap him for a rookie. Even if that rookie is a record-breaking, everything the team is missing defenseman.

The Griffins, as we referenced earlier, would run to Sandin Pellikka. Shoot, they might fly over to Sweden and pick him up themselves. They’re in desperate need of help and adding Sandin Pellikka on top of Anton would be almost too rich to handle. 

They both would certainly help the playoff run that the Griffins hope to go on—having a deep playoff run is all that Sebastian Cossa wants. We have to give our star goaltending prospect what he wants, and Sandin Pellikka would only help things.

Of course, both Brandsegg-Nygård and Sandin Pellika would like to win another SHL championship so they can one-up Albert Johansson in his SHL championship club. So, if Skellefteå AIK makes a deep run, to the dismay of Grand Rapids Griffins fans everywhere, it will still be a win overall for the Red Wings organization. 

Having SHL playoff experience would only help these players grow.

To recap things

Anton is already signed with the Grand Rapids Griffins to an amateur tryout and is already listed on their online team roster. He will likely play a handful of games. If he’s good enough to steal a spot, then he likely will. As a right-handed shooting defenseman, Anton is already filling a position of weakness for the organization. Add in his physicality and two-way play and the Red Wings organization have a good one in their midst.

As for the other two, Brandsegg-Nygård and Sandin Pellikka, they won’t likely join the Detroit Red Wings organization for a while (maybe a few weeks to a month) if at all. There isn’t a guarantee either or both will come over after their season with Skellefteå AIK ends (or when that might actually be), but us fans can hold out hope that it will be sooner than later.

With the recent amount of injuries (now Elmer Söderblom is day-to-day, and Erik Gustafsson is out a bit of time longer), it seems the playoff race is getting further and further away. Having these young players (whoever they may be) come over to play some games brings some renewed hope and joy. 

Sandin Pellikka is likely over to North America for good next season, while the other two are still up in the air.

No matter how bad things get for the Red Wings this season, next season is where fans' focus should be (not a shot in the dark at a playoff spot only to get brutally bounced in the first round). Let some other team get beat up while Detroit regroups and upgrades their roster over the offseason.

Patience is in short supply these days, but with the performance so far of the young guys, they’re showing that the longer rebuild will be worth the wait.