Axel Sandin Pellikka was recently awarded the Borje Salming Trophy as the best Swedish-born defenseman in the Swedish Hockey League. With Simon Edvinsson now playing as a Detroit regular, Sandin Pellikka is unofficially the Red Wings’ top prospect. Meanwhile, Sandin Pellikka has played a key role in helping his Skelleftea team take a 3-1 lead in their SHL semifinal series against Frolunda.  If Skelleftea wins Game 5 today, Sandin Pellikka will be the SHL Final playing against Rogle.

It’s clear this player, called “ASP” by some fans, has the potential for a bright future in this sport. That is impressive considering when Sandin Pellikka was younger, hockey was not on his radar.

He was a cross-country skier, like his dad, until one Christmas when his grandfather gifted him hockey equipment.

“It quickly became hockey that mattered,’ Sandin Pellikka said in a recent conversation highlighted on Reddit.

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Continuing to light red lamps in Sweden, Detroit Red Wings prospect Axel Sandin Pellikka is charging down an SHL record. The defenseman was tallying his eighth goal of the SHL. He was recording a power-play tally on Saturday as Skelleftea downed MoDo Hockey 4-1. Sandin Pellikka was chosen 17th overall by Detroit in the 2023 NHL entry draft

The marker was the eighth of the SHL season for the teenager, who won’t turn 19 until March 11. Sandin Pellikka is now in a share of the SHL lead for goals by a teenager, sharing the standard with forward Jonathan Lekkerimäki.

PELLIKKA! 8th of the season!#LGRW pic.twitter.com/1ASz74YJT3

— IcehockeyGifs (@IcehockeyG) November 25, 2023

“He is very, very good,” Skelleftea assistant coach Pierre Johnsson told Swedish website Expressen.se.

Sandin Pellikka is three shy of equalizing the SHL record for the teenaged defenseman. Both former NHLer Tomas Jonsson (MoDo, 1978-79) and current Dallas Stars defender Nils Lundkvist (Lulea, 2019-20) share the mark. Both were netting 11 goals in a season prior to their 20th birthdays.

Teammates Praising Sandin Pellikka

While his performance on the ice must certainly be exicting to Red Wings fans, Sandin Pellikka’s efforts are proving to be just as sensational in the eyes of those who are seeing him up close, his Skelleftea teammates.

“I hold him extremely high of the talents I’ve seen, with the way he plays,” Skelleftea captain Jonathan Pudas told Expressen. “Not many can do it as consistently as he does. He doesn’t think, it just happens. Pretty impressive.

“His skill and craftsmanship are on a level of their own. It’s damn fun to watch. A very humble guy, too.”

Sandin Pellikka picks up his 11th point of the season with a powerplay assist #LGRW pic.twitter.com/oCB4rzykr2

— IcehockeyGifs (@IcehockeyG) November 23, 2023

Johnsson has seen the time that the veteran defenseman Pudas, 30, puts into helping Sandin Pellikka hone his craft on a daily basis.

“Pudas stands and practices shots with him after each practice and tells him to the millimeter where he should stand to be able to pinch right away,” Johnsson explained. “Pudas may have some of the goals, but he (Sandin Pellikka) is obviously a skilled back who plays with high confidence now.”

The post Sandin Pellikka Scores Again; Red Wings Pick Nears SHL Record appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.

Tracking the progress of Detroit Red Wings’ prospects in the Swedish Hockey League has become one of the tradition’s of the team’s ongoing rebuild.

Thanks in no small part to IcehockeyGifs-provided video, Detroit fans have been able to enjoy watching Simon Edvinsson, Elmer Soderblom, Marco Kasper and William Wallinder grow up in the SHL.

That tradition will continue this season with defenseman Axel Sandin Pellikka playing for Skelleftea. His gifted puck-moving style will undoubtedly lend itself to some entertaining video highlights.

Sandin Pellikka contributed a goal and an assist to help Skelleftea down Tappara in a Champions Hockey League matchup. He played 16:53, giving him an average of 17:30 minutes per game in his three CHL contests. The SHL launches Sept. 14.

“He’ll have a good season in Skelleftea,” said Dan Cleary, the Red Wings’ Director of Player Development. “The SHL is a strong league.”

Axel Sandin Pellikka against Tappara in CHL.
16:53 TOI, 1 goal, 1 assist
Next up; SHL regular season opener on the 14th#LGRW pic.twitter.com/Px2eNAmLri

— IcehockeyGifs (@IcehockeyG) September 10, 2023

Sandin scored Skelleftea’s fifth goal during a goalmouth scramble, roofing the puck high into the net from in tight.

Potential High-Scoring D Man

Several NHL scouts considered the young Swede the top-offensive minded defenseman available in the 2023 draft in Nashville. The Red Wings took him with the 17th pick in the first round. Weather issues forced Sandin Pellikka to drive from the East Coast to Nashville to get the draft. Those weather issues caused cancellation of their flight.

Sandin Pellikka’s elite scoring touch makes him a popular pick in Swedish SHL fantasy pools.

He’s confident with the puck, particularly in traffic. Sandin Pellikka has totaled 10 shots on goal in three Champions League game.

This summer, Sandin Pellikka tested well at the Red Wings’ Player Development Camp. He played 22 games in the SHL last season, even though he just turned 18 in March. Detroit general manager Steve Yzerman historically doesn’t fast track players. His preference has been to give them time to develop.

The post Red Wings Fans Will Enjoy Tracking Sandin Pellikka’s Progress appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.

The consensus among NHL draft pundits prior to the 2023 selections was that Detroit Red Wings prospect Axel Sandin Pellikka was the most skilled offensive defenseman among the class.

Swedish fantasy hockey experts are sharing in that philosophy. In Sweden, when they talk about the Dream Team, they aren’t referring to the U.S. Olympic basketball squad. It’s a popular hockey pool competition in the country run by Swedish website Aftonbladet.se. And the player Detroit choice with the 17th overall selection of the 2023 NHL entry draft draft is being viewed as a real value pick that Dream Team poolers should be scooping up for their club.

Of the four experts polled by Aftonbladet, three were of the opinion that Sandin Pellikka was a player that should be among the selections.

Sandin Pellikka Ready For Big Breakthrough

Jonathan Knetka is viewing Sandin Pellikka as “a talent” who could made his “big breakthrough this season.”

In 2022-23, Sandin Pellikka was seeing his first SHL action, collecting 2-3-5 totals in 22 games for Skelleftea. Skating for Skelleftea’s junior squad, he was accounting for 16-20-36 numbers in 31 games.

An added attraction to picking Sandin Pellikka for the Dream Team hokcey pool is that the pool requires players to fit under a salary cap. He’s only costing a salary of 3 million Swedish Krona.

As well, Sandin Pellikka is intrgiuing because of the growth he’s capable of displaying during the campaign.

“He’s an offensive defender worth watching with the potential to take big steps from autumn to spring,” noted Matthias Karlsson.

Skellefteå lost their 2nd CHL game 4-3 against Pardubice. Sandin Pellikka played 19:54 with 2 shots on goal #lgrw pic.twitter.com/MjMLfipYQO

— IcehockeyGifs (@IcehockeyG) September 3, 2023

Simon Norberg was comparing Sandin Pellikka’s potential to that of a young racehorse developing into a champion.

“Axel Sandin Pellikka can, as they say in trotting parlance, produce crosses in the coupon pile and mean cheers for any manager who goes for that horse,” Norberg explained.

Red Wings Seeing Similar Potential

In the Detroit organization, both those who selected him and those who play alongside him see significant upside in Sandin Pellikka’s game

“He’s a great defender,” said fellow Red Wings draftee Anton Johansson. “He is a good skater, he is a good puck handler.”

Sandin Pellikka got his competitive hockey season started today, playing 15:43 and recording 6 SOG and 4 blocked shots (both team highs) in a commanding 4-0 win over Salzburg in the CHL. #LGRW pic.twitter.com/uHwWBOhB27

— IcehockeyGifs (@IcehockeyG) September 1, 2023

Dan Cleary, assistant director of player development for the Red Wings, is also anticipating a season of growth from Sandin Pellikka.

“Smart kid,” Cleary said. “Really composed. That translates to his on-ice game as well. When he’s under pressure, under siege, he’s got the ability to calm it down and make a play instead of rushing it. That’s his demeanor.

“He’ll have a good season in Skelleftea. The SHL is a strong league.”

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