Emerging Talent: Axel Sandin-Pellikka
Detroit Red Wings’ defenseman Axel Sandin-Pellikka is emerging as a notable figure in the team’s pre-season efforts. His recent experience playing at the NHL level showcases his potential as a strong prospect for the franchise.
Pre-Season Performance
In their latest match against the Pittsburgh Penguins at Little Caesars Arena, Sandin-Pellikka continued to prove his mettle in the league, demonstrating remarkable endurance by logging significant ice time firsthand.
In his initial pre-season outing on September 23, he topped all Red Wings players in ice time with 22 minutes and 36 seconds during a 3-2 victory against the Chicago Blackhawks. Sandin-Pellikka came close to leading again in the very next game, a close-fought 3-2 win over the Buffalo Sabres, finishing just 13 seconds shy of teammate Moritz Seider‘s total ice time. His consistency further shone through in subsequent matches, where he ranked first and second in ice time during the games against the Sabres and the Penguins, respectively.
Offensive Contributions
The young blueliner has been recognized for his offensive capabilities, often reporting to the power play—a role that aligns with his reputation. Goaltender John Gibson shared his impressions after the Penguins game, emphasizing Sandin-Pellikka’s offensive contributions:
“You can definitely tell that he’s an offensive defenseman. He’s joining the rush, shooting the puck. He looked solid out there tonight.”
Coaching Insights
Despite the team suffering a 2-1 defeat to the Penguins, Red Wings head coach Todd McLellan acknowledged Sandin-Pellikka’s contributions, stating that he was one of the standout performers on their defensive line:
“I thought he played a pretty solid outing. In our end, he handled the pressure and made plays from the red line in; he was dynamic and moved pucks around.”
McLellan further praised that Sandin-Pellikka was not a player of concern post-game, although his feedback was not as positive for some of his other players, hinting at an urgent need for improvement in their performances:
“There were some others back there that need to get better.”
Jersey Number and Legacy
Interestingly, Sandin-Pellikka has opted for jersey number 44, a number not seen on a Detroit defenseman since Christian Djoos during the 2020-21 season. Before Djoos, it was also worn by Anders Eriksson and the legendary Viacheslav Fetisov, who would later switch to number 2.
As Sandin-Pellikka continues to showcase his abilities, he represents a hopeful vision for the Red Wings’ future, navigating the primary challenge of making a strong impression during this crucial pre-season phase.
