Multiple trips took me through the middle of the US. Sometimes my sister accompanied me on these long, winding drives. The first roadtrip was a drive through the night. For as far as the eye could see, there were flashing red lights.
Us being blondes in both hair color and personalities, we had no clue what these lights were. We came to the only rational conclusion: aliens.
Once we realized they were just windmills, we continued the joke (and still do to this day). It helped to keep us awake in some of the longest, uneventful drives of our lives.
Although it’s not the exact path, it’s a similar path that Axel Sandin Pellikka and Michael Brandsegg-Nygård will traverse as they are introduced to the American Hockey League (AHL).
Two games in two nights with travel between Rockford, Illinois, and Des Moines, Iowa, is some kind of diving into the deep end that is the AHL.
Before they have to face the long bus ride, Friday night is the start of something new for the Grand Rapids Griffins. In turn, Detroit Red Wings fans should be on the edge of their proverbial seats.
Here’s what Detroit Red Wings fans can be excited for as Axel Sandin Pellikka and Michael Brandsegg-Nygård get set for their Grand Rapids Griffins debut
Two of the hottest prospects in the National Hockey League (NHL) get set to take on the Rockford IceHogs. Sandin Pellikka and Brandsegg-Nygård have traveled to North America following the close of their Swedish Hockey League (SHL) playoffs. Both promising young players provided offense for Skellefteå AIK, with Sandin Pellikka earning top-pairing minutes throughout their playoff run. Brandsegg-Nygård showed that he’s designed for the tough minutes, salivating for any chance at playoff-style hockey.
The Grand Rapids Griffins are in desperate need of help. Since approximately the halfway mark of the season, the AHL team has struggled in many aspects of the game. Primarily defense has struggled, sometimes goaltending, and other times generating offense seems to be challenging.
Although the Skellefteå AIK duo won’t provide goaltending directly, they will help in the other two categories. Both guys are a work in progress in terms of their defensive game, however, they bring their eagerness to learn and immense skill to the table.
Sandin Pellikka is a spunky, Einstein on the ice who has broken SHL records. He won’t beat anyone with size or speed.
Standing at just 5’11” and weighing in at 185 lbs, Sandind Pellikka is a unique defenseman in general. In terms of Steve Yzerman's draft picks for his Detroit Red Wings, he’s truly one of a kind.
Yzerman tends to draft the big defensemen (as does most of the NHL)—Moritz Seider, Simon Edvinsson, even Albert Johansson is 6’1.” This point only emphasizes how good Sandin Pellikka is, good enough to for Yzerman and company to deviate from their normal picks.
Of course, it helps that Sandin Pellikka is as feisty as they come.
He barks back—sometimes following it up with a metaphorical bite to his opponents (pushing, shoving, etc.). My curiosity is piqued to see if Sandin Pellikka backs down from any of the goons in the AHL, as they can be some of the nastiest players in hockey. Something tells me he won’t back down, which will be good and bad in the long run. At any rate, it will be fully entertaining to watch through Sandin Pellikka’s career.
As for Brandsegg-Nygård, he’s going to be a fan favorite almost immediately. He might not be as well-known as Sandin Pellikka, but he was the highest-drafted Norwegian for a reason. Contrary to the “typical” European-style, Brandsegg-Nygård is a mean customer who takes no prisoners. He’s not shy about taking on multiple opponents at once or standing his ground (for himself or teammates).
He’s a decent skater, already NHL-sized, and seemed to be a favorite of the Red Wings management. If he stayed in North America all season, I wouldn’t have been surprised if he earned a call-up midseason.
He looked that good (at least physically). Mentally, Brandsegg-Nygård needed more time to develop.
Sweden was a good place to develop, but I think Brandsegg-Nygård’s game will take off with the Griffins.
The cherry on top is Brandsegg-Nygård’s shot.
It’s wicked. Maybe not as accurate as it will be once fully developed, but, man, is it a weapon in the Wings’ organization.
Sandin Pellikka and Brandsegg-Nygård arrived earlier this week, practiced with the team, and were asked to watch Wednesday’s game against the IceHogs to help prepare for tonight’s matchup.
Hopefully, both players see real ice time even in the first game.
If it were me, I’d love to watch Sandin Pellikka paired on the second pairing with Shai Buium. Brandegg-Nygård seems like a perfect fit for Amadeus Lombardi. Right now, the head coach of the Grand Rapids Griffins, Dan Watson, has fulfilled my first preference. Meanwhile, Brandsegg-Nygård is starting on the third pairing with Ondřej Becher and Tim Gettinger.
How we're looking 👀 pic.twitter.com/Bzv66GiK2w
— x - Grand Rapids Griffins (@griffinshockey) April 18, 2025
These two early games in their North American careers may be a great motivator to getting to the NHL sooner rather than later. It’s a rough, difficult league that takes no prisoners. This statement isn’t to minimize the other professional hockey leagues worldwide—they’re challenging in their own right. However, few leagues have quite the distance to travel and odd schedule (sometimes three games in three nights with travel in between, then no game for over a week).
It might take both players some time to adjust to the AHL. The smaller-sized rink, style of play, and system that the Griffins employ, but these games are a great springboard into the playoffs. Grand Rapids needs all hands on deck if they are to find success in the playoffs.
Another reinforcement is heading to the Griffins, as well. Austin Watson was reassigned to Grand Rapids. So, Grand Rapids should be rocking tonight.
Hope you tune in to FloHockey or listen free on iHeart Radio to 96.1 The Game.
In the meantime, here’s some Sandin Pellikka and Brandsegg-Nygård to quench your thirst for more info on the duo: