ASP and MBN, the Pelican and the Panda
The Detroit Red Wings are just over a month away from the beginning of training camp. Mlive has reported that the players will hit the ice in Traverse City, Michigan on September 18th this year. With a lack of any major signings this year, it will again be young players like Simon Edvinsson that garner the most attention from the office and from fans. For many fans, Axel Sandin-Pellikka and Michael Brandsegg-Nygard are on the “must see” list.
ASP and MBN, nicknamed “pelican” and “Panda” respectively, have created quite a buzz for Detroit. Sandin-Pellikka has racked up an impressive list of international accolades and praise since his draft year in 2023. Brandsegg-Nygard started to find his game in Grand Rapids during the playoffs last year. Both entered the summer stating a desire to break through and find jobs in the NHL.
Sandin-Pellikka is already in “Elite” company
Amongst the many awards that ASP has acquired, the blue liner was named as “Sweden’s best junior player” by eliteprospects.com this past year. Fellow Red Wing picks Moritz Seider (2021) and Simon Edvinsson (2022) were also recipients of the award. If their growth is any indication, Detroit may have found a third piece in their defensive core moving forward.
The interest around Sandin-Pellikka is palpable, even amongst other fanbases. His performances at the World Junior Championships made it clear that Detroit did well with a pick acquired from the Vancouver Canucks. While a start in the AHL may be the end result, ASP is going to be a force to be reckoned with in camp and the preseason.
Brandsegg-Nygard is on the rise
Unlike Sandin-Pellikka, Brandsegg-Nygard struggled in his post draft season. MBN amassed a mere 11 points (5 goals, 6 assists) in 42 games in Sweden. Still, it was clear that the Red Wings office had high expectations for the 6’1” right shooting wing. It was in Grand Rapids that those expectations seemed to manifest this past year.
While the Griffins were swept in the opening round of the playoffs, MBN broke through for the team in game two. He scored his first North American goal in game two, and ended the three game sweep with 3 points (2 goals, 1 assist). Brandsegg-Nygard also engaged physically and began to turn heads with his intensity. His net front presence and quick shot in tight fill multiple voids for the Red Wings, and the office is watching closely.
The hallmark of Detroit’s rebuild under Steve Yzerman has been found in the first round thus far. Moritz Seider, Lucas Raymond, Simon Edvinsson and Marco Kasper all look like core players for the Red Wings. ASP and MBN are looking to add to that group and move the team forward in its quest for a post season return. It looks like they’ll have the opportunity to make the team younger, and stronger, in just one month’s time.
