Playing in the NHL is not an easy job. It's a grueling 82-game schedule featuring a fast-paced game filled with nonstop physical play. For any rookie, it's a culture shock, even if they spent time seasoning their game in the AHL.
For one Detroit Red Wings' rookie, it was an even tougher challenge, because he had limited experience playing in North America. Axel Sandin-Pellikka played in just five AHL games (two in the regular season and three in the playoffs) in 2024-25, so to make the big club after a solid preseason was going to be a tough transition to the North American game.
And it hasn't been smooth, with the undersized Sandin-Pellikka constantly finding himself outmuscled by opponents earlier in the season, caught out of position defensively, and being a non-factor offensively.
His recent play, however, has been much better, and he enjoyed a four-game point streak before Detroit's loss to the Edmonton Oilers. Sandin-Pellikka is also playing like the game is slowing down for him, and that recent play has garnered praise from head coach Todd McLellan.
Following the Red Wings' win over the Calgary Flames, McLellan said, “His confidence seems to be going up, which is a real good thing. (It’s) tough for a smallish, young defenseman to come into the League and learn on the fly, but we’ve got a ton of confidence in him and he seems to be getting better every night.”
What this means for Axel Sandin-Pellikka going forward
Confidence was the first thing Todd McLellan noted. And the more confident Sandin-Pellikka is when he plays, the more at home he will feel. That means seeing more of what has turned into high-octane play in recent games. Sandin-Pellikka will take more chances in the offensive zone, likely getting more shots off at the net in hopes of a deflection or a tip-in, which would help the Red Wings turn into an even better scoring unit.
Sandin-Pellikka's ability to stick out the first 33 games, even if he struggled early in the year, is a testament to his hockey IQ. McLellan implied that when he talked about Sandin-Pellikka learning "on the fly." The sheer improvement in his game also means Sandin-Pellikka has learned from his early-season mistakes.
With McLellan speaking about having "a ton of confidence in him," it should further level up Sandin-Pellikka's game. It indicates that McLellan's going to give him more ice time and put him in more unfamiliar situations.
Building Axel-Sandin Pellikka into a well-rounded NHL defenseman
McLellan also knows how to build Sandin-Pellikka's confidence. When Sandin-Pellikka is putting up points, McLellan limits his ice time. Seven of Sandin-Pellikka's 12 points have come when he has played under 17 minutes, and 10 have come when he's been on the ice for fewer than 18. Sandin-Pellikka has played 17:54 or less in 13 of his 33 games.
He has yet to put up a point and has a minus-6 rating when playing over 21 minutes a contest. It shows that, when Sandin-Pellikka is having a bad night, McLellan is more likely to let him play and give him more chances. That shows true confidence from the coach, and it backs up what McLellan was saying.
Look for McLellan to keep using this style as Sandin-Pellikka continues to grow. When he's putting up points and enjoying a good game, he doesn't need to play a ton of minutes at this point. And if he's making mistakes, leave him out there and don't hide him. In time, the good games will outweigh the bad games, and Sandin-Pellikka will be playing regular top-four minutes.