A successful acquisition by Steve Yzerman in Nashville: "A big piece over the next decade"
Photo credit: NHL.com
Detroit Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman made a massive acquisition in Nashville that is set to become a "big piece of the Wings' core over the next decade."
Three players made their NHL debut for the Red Wings this season: Emmitt Finnie, Michael Bransegg-Nygaard, and Axel Sandin-Pellikka.
They have all impressed the Wings' management and coaching staff enough during training camp to force the organization's hand to give them a shot to play this year in the NHL.
After three games, one of them is standing out.
Axel Sandin-Pellikka Will Play a Massive Role in Detroit for the Next Decade, Per Prospect Expert
According to Byron Bader, who worked for Sportsnet, TSN, and The Athletic, he stated on X that he believes Sandin-Pellikka will grow to become an impactful player in Detroit for a long time, comparing his development curve to Andrei Markov:
"Axel Sandin-Pellikka, who just made his NHL debut two years after being drafted, has had monumental growth in production YoY since being drafted. Similar growth pattern to Andrei Markov. He should be a big piece of the Red Wings' core over the next decade +."
Before the Wings' home opener, Steve Yzerman also shared his thoughts on the rookies who made their debut this season, including Sandin-Pellikka.
Here's what he had to say:
"Probably exceeded our expectations. All three of them were in Grand Rapids at the end of the year and all did alright based on what we saw. We kind of anticipated them, at that time, starting in Grand Rapids.
But we say it every year, no decision has been made until you come to camp. From Day 1, they started off really good [at the 2025 NHL Prospect Games] and continued that in the scrimmages in Traverse City, the Red & White Game in Grand Rapids, and they all looked good in the preseason games.
We felt that they all earned the opportunity and see if they can sustain it in the regular season, which we expect them to. It was a very pleasant surprise that we weren't necessarily expecting in the offseason."
But we say it every year, no decision has been made until you come to camp. From Day 1, they started off really good [at the 2025 NHL Prospect Games] and continued that in the scrimmages in Traverse City, the Red & White Game in Grand Rapids, and they all looked good in the preseason games.
We felt that they all earned the opportunity and see if they can sustain it in the regular season, which we expect them to. It was a very pleasant surprise that we weren't necessarily expecting in the offseason."
The 20-year-old defenseman hasn't tallied an NHL point yet, but it should come soon enough.
More to come.
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