Detroit Red Wings’ prospect, Axel Sandin-Pellikka, is remaining in Sweden the best choice?

Of all the prospects selected under the Steve Yzerman-era for the Detroit Red Wings, none is as unique as one–Axel Sandin-Pellikka.

A stark contrast to the giants that are normally selected on the blueline, Sandin-Pellikka is a 5 foot 11 inch bedazzler. He makes things happen all over the ice, and usually for good reasons.

There is so much to like about Sandin-Pellikka’s game even before he makes the move across the pond. 

While there isn’t too much debate or concerns, Sandin-Pellikka is remaining in Sweden at least another Swedish Hockey League (SHL) season. It has me wondering, though:

Is remaining in Sweden another season in the best interest of Axel Sandin-Pellikka and the Detroit Red Wings

There are infinite layers to this question, but I’ll do my best to peel back some of them.

Realistically, there isn’t much room. Even for a player of Sandin-Pellikka’s caliber, and space would be made for a player like him, it might be more challenging than useful if he were to arrive in North America for the upcoming season. 

Yzerman may not have gone hog wild in free agency like last year, but he replenished much of the lost depth within the organization.

Not to mention, the Grand Rapids Griffins are stacked on defense with young prospects. All of whom are bound to have some rest in between games as there are only so many slots available and a plethora of choices to fill those few slots.

However, most of the defense the Detroit Red Wings have are left handed defensemen. Although guys like Simon Edvinsson, Albert Johansson, and even William Wallinder during his SHL days have played on the right side, the National Hockey League (NHL) coaches tend to stick lefties on the left side, and righties on the right side. 

Some exceptions happen, like Shayne Gostisbehere, but those players are few and far between. 

It’s likely that no matter when Sandin-Pellikka chooses to come to North America, he will have a slight advantage over his fellow prospects. Aside from Anton Johansson, there are few right handed defense prospects to speak of and very few NHL options in the upcoming seasons.

It’s doubtful that Sandin-Pellikka ever unseats Moritz Seider as the number one rightie on the Detroit Red Wings, but he should fit in nicely as a second pairing defenseman. He’ll offer a nice contrast in terms of skating and pace of play to a guy like Seider.

While Seider provides a tough, two-way, mean game, he doesn’t read the game the same way that Sandin-Pellikka does. Very few players do.

On the other hand, Sandin-Pellikka isn’t big, doesn’t have the physicality that Seider brings to the table, but he’s not a soft player. I liken his physicality similar to Alex DeBrincat who is a bit smaller, but they both are feisty. They stand up for themselves, which is huge. Also, Sandin-Pellikka has been known to throw the body. (He does work with Niklas Kronwall afterall, so a hit is bound to happen at some point.) 

Sandin-Pellikka also plays better defensively than expected.

However, physicality and two-way play won’t encompass his calling cards quite like Seider. Additionally, I’m not sure that Sandin-Pellikka is built for the minutes that Seider gets (both in volume and quality of competition).

In contrast, I think Sandin-Pellikka will be the go to guy in the offensive zone, on the top power play units, and if there is 30 seconds left on the clock and we are down by a goal, Sandin-Pellikka is the on the ice with the puck on his stick.

I think the duo will make a formidable pairing that will be difficult to defend against for a decade or more.

This season, even though I would love to watch Sandin-Pellikka in a Detroit Red Wings or Grand Rapids Griffins jersey, it would be a difficult jump to make.

The argument that Detroit Red Wings prospects have to become overripe to play in the NHL is a fair criticism, I think. I think it’s a case-by-case basis if I agree a prospect is overripe for the American Hockey League (AHL), so I suppose that statement alone means I disagree that the all prospects are overripe in the system. For certain prospects, I think they should have been in the NHL sooner than later. (Do I think it has hurt their development? Some, yes. Others not at all.)

I don’t think we can discuss if Sandin-Pellikka is overripe, as he was only drafted in 2023 at the 17th overall pick. After the first three-to-five picks in a draft, realistically a prospect isn’t push for an NHL job until two-to-three years after being drafted. 

There is an argument to be had about what Sandin-Pellikka stands to gain from playing in the SHL another season. 

I tend to look for guidance from people with more experience and access to the SHL. 

It is a great league, one of the top in the world, so I know the quality of competition is good. Skellefteå not only won the championship this past season, but is an excellent organization. Sandin-Pellikka has already earned a role in the regular lineup and Skellefteå wasn’t shy about playing him in important minutes. 

Although he played well in the SHL last season, there’s always room for improvement. Staying the SHL should help round out his game, sharpening the existing tools and building on the great foundation he has already.

Most importantly, it won’t stagnate his development, let alone hurt it. 

Would coming to North America make more of an impact? 

I reckon that it would. The SHL is a great league, and offers much more comfortability for Swedish prospects than the NHL or AHL provide. 

It’s reasonable to assume that Sandin-Pellikka would have played most, if not all, of the 2024-25 season in the AHL rather than the NHL. The AHL is a difficult league to transition to and I’m not sure it’s the best league for a player like Sandin-Pellikka to flourish in or grow.

There are times, I think the AHL might be one of the meanest, most physical leagues in the world. Outside of the NHL playoffs and maybe a few Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) teams/games, I’m not sure another league comes particularly close to the AHL physicality.

To me, it’s not really a flex on the AHL. It’s meant to be a developmental league and at times, it feels like a beer league that has a bunch of angry, poorly paid, chronically hurt individuals who take it out on anyone they can. Likely, because that’s what a good chunk of the veteran players are (and young guys looking to make a name for themselves, or who might be mad they’re in the league to begin with).

Honestly, a player like Sandin-Pellikka could do well, but if he could avoid it (even though it would break my Grand Rapids Griffins fangirl heart), I think it would be for the best. It's likely that in 2025-26, he will aim for the second pairing right handed defenseman spot in Detroit's opening night lineup.

At this point, taking the longer route is best for Sandin-Pellikka. It’s hard at times to play the waiting game, but all parties involved will be better for it.