Since he was drafted 17th overall by the Detroit Red Wings in the 2023 National Hockey League (NHL) Draft, Axel Sandin-Pellikka had the most hype of any of the Wings touted prospects.
He had three strong seasons in the Swedish Hockey League (SHL), capped by a 29-point (12 goals and 17 assists) campaign in 2024-25. He displayed an offensive prowess not seen from a Detroit defenseman in decades.
The excitement around ASP only intensified when he surprisingly made the Red Wings roster out of training camp. Most expected him to at least start the season with the Grand Rapids Griffins, so the fact he was immediately NHL-ready invigorated the Hockeytown fanbase.
For the first couple games, Sandin-Pellikka proved he was worth the hype. He scored his first career goal against the Tampa Bay Lightning in just his fifth game and his skill-set seemed to translate well to the NHL.
As common with any young player, ASP hit some growing pains after the first couple weeks of the season
After he scored that goal against the Lightning in October, ASP scored only once more until the beginning of December. He also had just four assists across that span.
The NHL looked to be too overwhelming for Sandin-Pellikka. He was lost on most nights, misplaying pucks, losing his footing, and blowing defensive assignments. The confidence so prevalent in his game had disappeared.
Additionally, his size (6’0’’ and 185 pounds) did not seem NHL-ready. More games than not, he would suffer massive hits and consistently be outbodied for the puck.
The situation got so dire that there was legitimate speculation that ASP would be sent down to Grand Rapids to further develop his game. Sandin-Pellikka being demoted in favor of Erik Gustafsson or Justin Holl would have obviously soured some of the hype around the rookie.
Thankfully, for the player and the fanbase, Sandin-Pellikka has awoken from his slump seemingly overnight
Maybe the threat of demotion to the Griffins, or the rumors around Detroit trading for another defensemen in Quinn Hughes, motivated him. Or, maybe he simply has figured out the NHL game and is feeling more comfortable.
Regardless of the reason, the fact is ASP is in the midst of an offensive tear and proving he is worth the hype. Since the Red Wings’ game against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Dec. 4, he is on a four-game point streak. This includes a spectacular one-timer against the Calgary Flames last night.
Along with that goal, he also has four assists, giving him five points in the last four games. This is important because ASP had just six points in the first 27 contests of the season. The young Swede already fits in seamlessly with the likes of Alex DeBrincat and Patrick Kane on the offensive end, which should excite all Red Wings fans.
Sandin-Pellikka’s defense still needs to improve, but he is developing. During this four-game stretch, he is a plus-1. That may not be the most impressive stat, yet it is promising when considering he was a -13 beforehand. His defense should only get better as he grows more into his body as well.
Although ASP will inevitably encounter more hiccups in his development, Red Wings fans can rest assured that he is already proving his potential as a top-line defensemen and will be worth the hype when it’s all said and done.