Axel Sandin-Pellikka Prospect Writeup

Axel Sandin-Pellikka

5'11

185lbs

Former NHL GM and current TSN pundit, Craig Button, recently released his top 50 prospects currently on NHL teams, and Axel Sandin Pellikka found himself at number 6. As a Red Wings fan, I've been following Axel for a while, from his record-breaking SHL season to his dominant World Juniors showcase. Let's take a deep dive into ASP, for short, and see what makes him such a special prospect. ASP, a defenseman, stands 5'10" and 180 lbs, and is a right-hander. Whenever anyone sees a smaller mobile defender light up leagues at a young age, there are immediate comparisons to Adam Fox. Let's take a look at what ASP brings to the table and draw some pro comparisons.

Observing some SHL games and World Juniors, some things remind me of Fox, and some things separate ASP from him. For starters, his SHL team and the World Juniors deploy him on the half-wall on the power play (affectionately referred to as Ovechkin's Office). Fox, and most power play quarterbacks, play on the blue line and straddle the line to open up lanes. This goes to Axel's shot. Despite his size, he gets amazing velocity for his size and can really put the puck where he wants it. The larger rink size (extra 15 ft) gives him a little more space to create. He will most likely be on the blue line in an NHL scheme. Axel has deception to his game and uses head fakes and dekes to open up space. He is not as good of a skater and has to improve his edgework to compare to Fox. Fox also has top 1% hand-eye coordination, often knocking pucks or passes out of mid-air with ease. Axel has a unique ability to open up scoring lanes and get a shot on net, which is important in power plays. And as boring of an ability to have, it is important. Axel has a great transition game, he has enough speed and deception to carry the puck himself on zone entries, or the ability to read seams and find a breakout. Axel shares a quality with Fox by attacking space. Any defender not aggressive in their gaps is punished by Axel taking space and either getting a shot on net or finding an open player on the rush. Axel also finds open space behind the play and knows how to get himself open for a shot. Axel still needs to work on his hockey sense. He doesn't see plays materialize and mostly just takes simple quick plays as opposed to crazy passes, which isn't so much of a bad thing, just a differentiation between Fox who makes passes no one on the ice can see. Axel also is not afraid to take the body on defense and will throw a hip check or two, and is great at his gap control against opposing attackers off the rush.

https://youtube.com/shorts/k9lM7muAdgA?si=qF3OS1l2MqSv_gAm

Axel was drafted by the Detroit Red Wings who, as it currently stands, don't really have a player like Axel apart from maybe Erik Gustafson, although Gustafson is a leftie. Axel really will be unabated to a top 3 position if everything pans out for him, and can really impact a Detroit Red Wings roster that is currently missing a puck-moving defenseman on the right side (Seider is doing his best). Axel is really walking into a roster spot hand-picked for his skill set, and should only benefit his stats and development.

We here at One Team At a Time use comparisons to try and forecast players' stats and roster fit using the players' play style, team fit, and player size. Axel is aggressive with the puck, a good skater, and has a great shot. I think his closest comparison is Dan Boyle.