Red Wings fans anxiously await the arrival of high-end prospect Axel Sandin-Pellikka on the main roster
The Red Wings are looking to make significant upgrades across their lineup with one more addition needed for the top six and more help on the blueline. They could look to add throughout the early preseason and regular season or they could look to give some rising prospects a chance for a spot on the main roster.
One player on the mind of all Red Wings fans is 2023 first round pick, Axel Sandin-Pellikka. The Swedish defenceman is coming off another strong season with Skellefteå AIK in the SHL, tallying 29 points in 46 games, along with eight more points in 11 playoff appearances.
He carried that momentum into international competition, excelling at the U20 World Junior Championships with four goals and six assists in ten games, and adding 13 points in 12 additional international contests.
Now, he appears ready to push for a full-time NHL role and is likely to get a long look at the top level. He also gained some North American experience with the Grand Rapids Griffins, picking up a point over five games split between the regular season and playoffs.
Axel Sandin-Pellikka nets hat trick at World Juniorsundefined
He'll be involved in a very tight position battle for a right defence spot as the Red Wings have the top spot locked up with Moritz Seider followed by Albert Johansson and newcomer Jacob Benard-Docker in the second and third pairings. Defencemen Justin Holl and Ian Mitchell are also on the verge of making a spot but will likely operate as healthy scratch options in case of injuries.
Sandin-Pellikka will be going against these defencemen that have already played and made an impact at the NHL level, which may make things challenging to break through. It'll likely take a chance from management for him to break through as many of the defenceman ahead of him have lengthy experience but are far from game-breaking players.
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If they can put a 20-year-old in Sandin-Pellikka in a position to succeed with meaningful minutes, he could learn how to play at the next level and hopefully transition his game.
He could also take a slower approach like his fellow countryman did in Detroit with Simon Edvinsson. At 20 years old, he came to North America and played 106 AHL games across two seasons to adjust to the style of play, while also working into NHL games along the way.
Edvinsson would finally get a full look last season, where he played in 78 games with the Red Wings and recorded 31 points and a +12 rating. He is now fully developed and is poised to take a run at making the Red Wings top pairing with Moritz Seider.
This sort of outcome would mean still a few more years away for Sandin-Pellikka, which nobody wants to hear, but it could be the best move for him as throwing him into a hostile environment could work out a couple different ways.
If it turns out like it did for Seider that would be a huge success as he won the Calder in the 2022 season with no prior North American playing experience. It could also work extremely poorly like it did for Vancouver's Olli Juolevi, who was a top five pick back in 2016 but was rushed to the NHL at 20 years old and never recovered, falling behind with his development.
Ultimately, it will come down to the Red Wings coaching staff to determine whether Sandin-Pellikka is ready and to give him the best opportunity to succeed. While fans would love to see an explosive NHL debut similar to Moritz Seider’s, the more realistic answer might be additional years of development.
For now, Sandin-Pellikka’s strongest path to the main roster will be through a standout training camp and making the most of every opportunity. His situation adds an intriguing layer to the preseason, as many fans will be watching closely, hoping he can carve out a role that mirrors Seider’s rapid rise.
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