This last season saw not one, not two, but three pleasant surprises emerge for the Detroit Red Wings.
At the start of the season, three rookies - Michael Brandsegg-Nygard, Emmitt Finnie and Axel Sandin-Pellikka - made their NHL debut. While only one remained in Detroit through the full season, each rookie gained plenty of experience at the NHL level. Finnie thrived playing up and down the lineup. Brandsegg-Nygard, despite a bizarre deployment strategy, found his scoring touch again outside the NHL.
The most curious case of the three, however, is Axel Sandin-Pellikka.
It's clear that the Red Wings asked Sandin-Pellikka to play well above his workload. The team's defense outside the top line ranged from eye-catching depth threats to inconsistent-at-best minute-munchers.
It was clear from the get-go that the Red Wings would throw Sandin-Pellikka feet first into the fire.
Sandin-Pellikka learned a lot in first season
As far as rookie defensemen went, Sandin-Pellikka's first season could've gone a lot worse. While he struggled a lot with consistency, he showed flashes of the brilliance that made him a no-brainer first round pick. In 68 NHL games, Sandin-Pellikka managed seven goals and 14 assists for 21 points on an average ice time of 16:13 per game.
Early in the season, Sandin-Pellikka was trusted with as much ice time as he could get, averaging anywhere from 17 to 22 minutes a night. As the season progressed, his mistakes became more glaring, and, in turn, his ice time took a hit. He'd go from 14 minutes one night to just nine the next, with head coach Todd McLellan occasionally stapling him to the bench in the third period.
As the lapses piled up, Sandin-Pellikka's game time kept falling until, for one reason or another, he was scratched for two straight weeks. At that point, the writing was on the wall: it was clear Sandin-Pellikka was AHL bound. Why in the world it took so long was anyone's guess, but it certainly made more sense for him to play actual games than just watch from the press box.
Defenseman redeemed himself in the AHL
Fortunately, it's clear at this point that Sandin-Pellikka is simply too good for the AHL. In his brief return to the Grand Rapids Griffins, the Swedish defenseman managed a half point-per-game pace in both the regular season and the Calder Cup Playoffs. But it wasn't just the scoresheet where Sandin-Pellikka thrived. He was everywhere on the ice, a constant threat against young rookies and seasoned vets alike.
It's clear that the transition to North American ice - and the workload that comes with it - took a toll on Sandin-Pellikka as the season went on. But, now that he's familiar with the grind of the season, it means he's got a big offseason to refine his game. Too often was Sandin-Pellikka bullied off the puck. If he can develop some muscle this offseason and focus on his vision, he'll become a powerful offensive defenseman.
The question, however, remains in his deployment.
With Moritz Seider and Simon Edvinsson making up the top pairing and Ben Chiarot and Justin Faulk taking on the second pair, space is limited. He'll need to outplay Jacob Bernard-Docker, who just signed an extension with the Red Wings, in order to secure a spot.
Ultimately, it's on Axel Sandin-Pellikka to show he's NHL-ready next season.
Final Grade: C
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