With six exhibition games in the last nine days, the Detroit Red Wings’ preseason slate has given plenty for the team’s brass to chew on.
Some position battles appear to have been settled. Others remain wide open. And as it has progressed, some new ones may have even opened up.
So, where do things stand with just two games — and a few days — left of training camp? Let’s examine.
Top-line left wing
The line from head coach Todd McLellan in the early days of camp was that this one could be “a never-ending question throughout the season.”
With a week before opening night, that certainly looks to be the case.
Granted, somebody is going to play next to Dylan Larkin and Lucas Raymond on opening night. But that doesn’t mean the battle will be settled.
Detroit has shown three looks through camp. First, it was Elmer Söderblom and his silky hands at 6-foot-8. Then it was 20-year-old rookie Emmitt Finnie, who burst onto the scene in Traverse City with his motor and smarts. Most recently, in Tuesday’s exhibition in Chicago, McLellan had Andrew Copp there — moving Copp off of the third-line center spot to do so.
With James van Riemsdyk reporting to the team on Wednesday, there’s one more name to potentially throw into the equation. But still, none is a slam-dunk fit, and that leaves the Red Wings in a tough spot.
Larkin and Raymond are certainly good enough to shoulder the offensive load for their line. They’re skilled, smart and competitive. But they also could use someone to do some dirty work for them down low, while still being able to play at their pace and be able to finish chances. That’s how Finnie put himself on the map, playing with relentlessness on the forecheck while delivering some offense, too.
Finnie hasn’t been as noticeable as the exhibitions have gone on, though, and Copp can bring similar smarts and competitiveness, in a heavier body, to the line — if that’s how McLellan wants to deploy him. Copp also looked highly capable centering the third line, between Michael Rasmussen and Mason Appleton, which showed an ability to wear down opponents in the offensive zone.
Still, Copp does have experience playing up the lineup, and he may well be Detroit’s best option of the bunch right now. He’s earned the look with his preseason play.
Whether it will last, though, remains to be seen.
Second-pair RHD
Conversely, this one felt like it had a favorite all along, and the good news is that favorite has made it a rather open-and-shut case.
Albert Johansson looks in line to take the last spot in Detroit’s top four, likely reprising his role on the right side next to Simon Edvinsson.
Johansson arrived at camp stronger, and more importantly, he’s shown up ready to play. He’s looked a cut above the field theoretically vying for this spot, which includes everyone besides Moritz Seider, Ben Chiarot and the injured Simon Edvinsson.
His skating and defensive stick can be weapons, and if he’s able to activate offensively to create more offense, he’s a real breakout candidate for Detroit on the back end.
Third-pair ‘D’
The flip side of Johansson standing out from the pack on defense? It’s hard to say many other challengers even made a case.
In fact, 20-year-old rookie Axel Sandin-Pellikka has probably been the most consistently noticeable defender outside the top four. It’s hard to say if that gives him a real chance to make the team or not, as expectations coming in were that Sandin-Pellikka would need time in Grand Rapids. He’s smart, competitive and can be an outstanding power-play quarterback, but is not yet a polished defender.
Historically, that’s the kind of player Detroit would send down to Grand Rapids for more seasoning. But we haven’t seen these kinds of camp decisions play out before with McLellan in the mix, and the Red Wings veterans have left the door wide open.
If it’s not Sandin-Pellikka, could fellow prospect William Wallinder make a surprise push, as a big body with elite skating ability? What about young change-of-scenery hopefuls Ian Mitchell or Jacob Bernard-Docker? Or will it be the more “chalk” answer, of Erik Gustafsson with Justin Holl or Travis Hamonic?
As with top-line left wing, the issue is you probably don’t feel great about any of the above options at this stage — though Sandin-Pellikka even being in the conversation does indicate a positive trend line.
That can change, though, if a couple of players step up and put their stamp on jobs to close out camp.
Bottom-six centers?
You’ll notice the question mark here, because it may or may not be an issue. If Copp is at third-line center, then J.T. Compher looks like the obvious answer in the No. 4 hole down the middle. In that case, these would be easily settled.
But if Copp does win the job next to Larkin and Raymond, there are more questions that would follow.
Does Compher go into that No. 3 spot, perhaps with Appleton and Elmer Söderblom — as Detroit showed in Chicago Tuesday night, with Rasmussen moving into the 4C slot?
Would Detroit have Finnie slide down into the 4C spot, rather than put him in a bigger role in AHL Grand Rapids?
Or could Nate Danielson — who has had a nice preseason as a two-way centerman, before sustaining an injury — get a look at 3C, leaving Compher available for the fourth?
There are a lot of potential dominoes hanging on that one big decision with Copp to start things off.
Danielson would be by far the most intriguing option at 3C, as a former top-10 pick whose ability to transport the puck would add welcome speed to that part of that lineup, without sacrificing smarts or defense. But without knowing more about his injury status, it’s hard to say how likely it is.
Compher is certainly the safest pick for the third line, having played that role before, but although he did score from that spot in the lineup Tuesday night, his camp has left plenty to be desired.
Elmer with the takeaway! JT with the finish! pic.twitter.com/pcbnyj5wAc
— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) October 1, 2025
Rasmussen can certainly do the job at 4C, but in recent seasons, he’s had some of his most impactful games on the wing.
And Finnie, for as good as he looked in the first half of camp, his loudest games came on the wing, where he can use his motor to buzz around the offensive zone, retrieving pucks, without quite as much defensive responsibility — though it certainly didn’t stop him from backchecking.
Again, all of this may be moot if McLellan decides to leave Copp at 3C. But if he isn’t, this could be the sneakiest, most interesting debate for the coaching staff to sort through.
(Photo of Andrew Copp: Rick Osentoski / Imagn Images)
