The Detroit Red Wings drafted two players over the course of the 2023 NHL Draft’s first round. With the 9th overall pick, the Wings chose Brandon Wheat Kings center Nate Danielson, and, with the 17th overall pick, they chose Skelleftea AIK defenseman Axel Sandin Pellikka.
You can click on those links above for my Tweet-by-Tweet blog entries regarding Danielson and Sandin Pellikka.
Just a couple of first round studs. pic.twitter.com/WqEevlhZt7— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) June 29, 2023
Fans at Little Caesars Arena (and Larry Murphy and Ville Husso) weighed in:
Two new additions joined the Detroit Red Wings family tonight. @NatalieKerwin1 got reaction from LCA when Steve Yzerman selected Nate Danielson at 9, and Axel Sandin Pellikka at 17. #LGRW pic.twitter.com/uC029eqLvR— Bally Sports Detroit (@BallySportsDET) June 29, 2023
What we’re going to do this evening is survey the media’s takes on the Red Wings’ pair of first-round picks, starting with the “local takes,” and expanding our perspective to those of the “national media.”
Ready? In classic TMR fashion, this is a “scroll fest,” so enjoy as you wish.
Let’s go!
I. The “Local Takes”:
A. Officially official: The Detroit Red Wings’ website posted the press releases regarding Danielson and Sandin Pellikka;
B. MLive: First, Ryan Zuke weighed in on the first round of the 2023 Draft via an as-it-happened blog entry…
8:13 p.m. — The Red Wings take Brandon Wheat Kings (Western Hockey League) center Nate Danielson with the ninth pick. The 6-foot-2, 186-pound Edmonton native had 33 goals and 45 assists in 68 games last season.
“Versatility comes to mind to me,” ESPN analyst Kevin Weekes said on the draft broadcast. “He is a guy who can do everything fairly well. And the one thing about Brandon, they have a really good program in the fact they develop NHL players. It is an NHL factory out there.”
“It is really special,” Danielson said in an ESPN interview on the draft floor. “It has been a dream of mine ever since I was a little kid to get drafted. To be a part of the Red Wings, I’m really excited.”
….
9:07 p.m. — Detroit gets one of the top offensive defenseman in the draft at No. 17, selecting Axel Sandin Pellikka, from Sweden. He stands 5-11, 180 pounds and split time last season between the Swedish Jr. league and Swedish Hockey League.
“A defenseman who can generate offense,” ESPN analyst Kevin Weekes said. “With the puck on his tape, he’s as skilled as most high-end skill forwards. That is absolutely dynamite for Wings fans. I like this selection.”
The Wings have now one center-defenseman with their two first-round picks.
And Ansar Khan weighed in regarding Danielson’s pick…
Danielson has good size (6-2, 186) and plays a two-way game. He tallied 33 goals and 78 points in 68 games last season with Brandon of the Western Hockey League.
“We like that he’s a big, strong, two-way center,” general manager Steve Yzerman told ESPN. “We see him playing in all types of situations. He’ll be a valuable addition to our organization.”
Danielson’s offensive game improved the second half, moving up on a lot of teams’ draft boards.
“My skating is one of the best parts of my game,” Danielson told ESPN. “I play a well-rounded game. I’m responsible defensively.”
Elite Prospects said of Danielson: “(He) was a creator of rush offense, building speed beneath the puck, charging through the neutral zone with possession, carving the ice up with powerful, agile crossovers, and turning the corner on opposing defenceman. Equal parts natural speed as a skater and handling skill made that a relatively effective signature move for the Wheat Kings center.”
As well as Sandin Pellikka’s:
Many analysts rated Sandin Pellikka (5-11, 180) is as the top offensive defenseman in the draft. He had 16 goals and 36 points in 31 games for Skelleftea in Sweden’s junior league.
He fills an organization need as a right-shooting defenseman.
Elite Prospects said of Sandin Pellikka: “(He) is an offensive defenseman with legitimate first-unit power play upside. His puck skills, playmaking, shot, and the ability to walk an offensive blue line make him a credible scoring threat with the puck on his stick, as does his ability to process options and make plays at speed off the rush. The Swedish blueliner is an engaged defender, particularly stout between the blue lines and along the boards.”
C. Free Press: The Free Press’s Helene St. James spoke with Danielson after he was drafted…
“To hear my name actually called by Steve Yzerman, I didn’t really believe it at first,” Danielson said. He had an inkling, though, that they were interested after a very good interview at the combine earlier this month. “I definitely thought it, but it doesn’t feel real until it actually happens.”
Danielson is 6 feet 2, 186 pounds and shoots right. He’s a highly skilled center with outstanding vision and the patience to wait until it’s the right moment to make the play. He led the Brandon Wheat Kings (Western Hockey League) with 78 points (33 goals, 45 assists) in 68 games. He’s versatile to the point he can play power play, penalty kill and be used in the last minute of tight games.
“I’m a very well-rounded player,” Danielson said. “I play well in all areas of the rink and offensively I’m very skilled and defensively, I’m responsible. I think just my all-around game is really strong.”
The Edmonton, Alberta, native was a WHL East Division Second All-Star Team member and played in the CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game.
The selection addresses the Wings’ need to shore up the center position in their farm system. Asked which NHL players appeal to him, Danielson cited Buffalo Sabres forward Dylan Couzens and Montreal Canadiens captain Nick Suzuki.
“I think I’m pretty similar to both of them,” he said. “I like to watch them both and pick things out of their game.”
And she spoke with Sandin Pellikka as well….
“It’s an unbelievable feeling, a sigh of relief,” Sandin Pellikka said. “Just getting up to hug my parents, my siblings, it’s an incredible feeling. I’m so happy to be a part of the Detroit Red Wings.”
He is an offensive defenseman with the skill set to run a power play. His playmaking, vision, shot and mobility make him an attractive package. Sandin Pellikka (5-foot-11, 180-pounds) spent part of the 2022-23 season with Skellefteå AIK in the Swedish Hockey League, recording five points and a plus-two rating in 22 games. His five points were the most of any defenseman 18 years of age or younger in Sweden’s highest professional league.
Additionally, Sandin Pellikka was named the best defenseman in Sweden’s top junior league after racking up 36 points, a plus-15 rating and 64 penalty minutes in 31 games with Skellefteå AIK’s under-20 team, along with one assist in two postseason appearances. He also contributed three points (2-1-3) in five playoff games with Skellefteå AIK’s under-18 squad.
“I think my game is going to fit,” Sandin Pellikka said. “I think that will come when I get to development camp and I get a better feel for how they play. But I like to play with confidence and have the puck as much as I can.”
And St. James told the story of “ASP’s” adventure getting to Nashville:
The bad air quality that has blanketed so much of the United States in recent days disrupted Sandin Pellikka’s plans to fly from New York to Nashville. It got to the point that the best option was to drive.
“We got into New York and everything was going well, but then the flight got delayed,” Sandin Pellikka said after the Red Wings picked him 17th overall. “Eventually it got canceled and we had to find a solution. My agent made us get into a hotel, so we stayed one night. We tried to find a good solution and the best one was to drive.”
“It was a 15-hour drive. The last four hours I was driving and my arms started to feel numb. I looked over at my agent and he was laying there, sleeping. It was a new experience for me. I’ve only had my driver’s license for like a month before I got to drive here in the U.S. It was a fun road trip.”
Sandin Pellikka, his younger brother, 2021 Wings draft pick Liam Dower Nilsson (coming to Detroit for next week’s development camp) and his agent, Claes Elefalk, got into one car, and Sandin Pellikka’s parents, grandfather and grandmother.
“They were driving behind me and as soon as I went over the speed limit, my mother would call my agent and say, just tell (him) to slow down, he can’t be driving like that,” Sandin Pellikka said. “She looks out for me.”
The Free Press also posted a photo gallery of both players, as well as video interviews with Danielson and Sandin Pellikka:
D. Detroit News: Ted Kulfan posted a combined article regarding both Danielson and Sandin Pellikka…
Danielson was linked to the Red Wings from early in the drafting process. A versatile player who is effective at both ends of the rink, Danielson took a major step forward this season in his development, and can be used in any situation.
“To be part of the Red Wings, I’m super excited,” said Danielson during the ESPN broadcast of the draft, adding his skating and well-rounded game are his strengths.
…
Sandin Pellikka (5-foot-11, 180-pounds) is considered to be one of the best skaters in this draft class among defensemen, and one of the best offensive defensemen.
An elite puck-mover and passer, Sandin Pellikka is dangerous with the puck on his stick and is dangerous on the rush.
“It’s an unbelievable feeling,” said Sandin Pellikka to ESPN upon getting drafted. “I had a great feeling when they were coming up to the pick (he’d be selected) and I was happy they picked me. I have a great feeling about the organization and I’m excited to join them.”
Kulfan spoke with Sandin Pellikka about his trip to Nashville…
“We tried to find a solution and the best one was to drive,” said Sandin Pellikka at his news conference after getting drafted by the Wings. “It was a 15-hour drive. The last four hours I was driving and my arms started to feel numb. I looked over at my agent and he was laying there, sleeping. It was a new experience for me. I’ve only had my driver’s license for like a month before I got to drive here in the U.S.”
Sandin Pellikka and his group put on “Country Roads” to add music to the trip and stopped at the usual American fast food joints.
“We stopped at all the good things America has to offer, Chipotle, Five Guys, those kind of places,” said Sandin Pellikka, who also got phone calls from his mother who was in the other car telling him to slow down.
The trip was worth it, especially after Sandin Pellikka heard his name called by the Wings.
And Bob Wojnowski summarized the ethos of the Wings’ first day at the draft:
For a team that has missed the playoffs seven straight seasons, it’s fair to wonder when the rebuild accelerates. Sometimes choosing safely and soundly is out of necessity, and you play the long game whether you wish to or not. If the Wings had won the lottery instead of Chicago, they’d have a dynamic rising star in Connor Bedard and the plan would shift. Yzerman said he had talks with a few teams about moving up or down, but not a single first-round pick was traded by any team Wednesday night.
Afterward, Yzerman stuck to the script. It sounds repetitive, but he isn’t interested in making dramatic false promises.
“Obviously with the picks we have and moves we made at the deadline, we’re still in a rebuilding phase, still collecting assets through the draft,” Yzerman said. “We’re not at a point where we feel like, hey, we can really start to go for it, so to speak. We’re progressing, and I hope to be there sooner than later.”
Even before the draft, the Wings had stockpiled considerable young talent. Yzerman has shown he’s willing to wait — for the right player, the right price, the right time — before striking. His style as a GM is to be patient and pensive. That doesn’t mean his patience is boundless, and he’s aware fans’ patience is being tested.
So when is it time to strike? As always, when the price is right.
The Wings are interested in Ottawa forward Alex DeBrincat, who’s on the market and seems like an ideal fit. He’s a Farmington Hills guy who’s only 25 and twice has scored 41 goals in a season. Makes sense to me, probably to a lot of fans tired of watching a dreary offense.
Wojnowski continues (paywall)…
And the Detroit News posted a 9-image photo gallery and and out-of-town round-up as well.
E. The Athletic: The Athletic’s Corey Pronman posted scouting reports on Danielson and Sandin Pellikka…
Background: Danielson was named co-captain of his WHL team during his draft season and has played a big all-situations role for Brandon. He was one of the top play-drivers in the WHL this season and was named a second team All-Star in the eastern division of the WHL. Danielson was over a point per game the prior season. He was invited to Canada’s U20 camp in the summer and their U18 camp the summer prior. He was the No. 5 pick in his WHL Bantam Draft.
Analysis: Danielson is a well-rounded center who has a lot of NHL traits. He’s a big body who skates and competes well, which when combined with his offensive touch, allows him to be effective in a lot of situations. He has an excellent stick, and is able to beat defenders with skill at NHL speeds often. He makes a lot of plays with pace but also shows the vision and shot threat to run a power play off the edge. Danielson is a competitive two-way center who wins a good share of puck battles and can kill penalties. He looks like a potential high-in-the-lineup all-situations center in the NHL.
Thoughts on the pick: Danielson has been a personal favorite of mine through the draft process. He reminds me a lot of Dylan Cozens at the same age. He’s a two-way center who can skate and has excellent skill. He can be a top two line center on a contender and with Dylan Larkin and Marco Kasper gives Detroit a great foundation down the middle.
And The Athletic posted Scott Wheeler’s profile of Sandin Pellikka earlier this year…
Ask Axel Sandin Pellikka if he expected this, and he’ll chuckle and shake his head.
This was an emergence as the consensus No. 2 D prospect in the 2023 NHL Draft. This was 22 games played and five points under his belt in the SHL as a 17-year-old. This was winning the Defenceman of the Year award at Sweden’s J20 level, where he played to above a point per game and half a goal per game as the most productive defenceman in the country’s top junior league. This was playing in the world juniors as an underager — as a go-to guy when it mattered most in a pair of high-stakes overtimes no less. This was winning the directorate award as the top defenceman at U18 worlds, guiding Sweden to silver and registering 11 points in seven games while playing huge minutes.
This was finishing at No. 7 on NHL Central Scouting’s ranking of the top European skaters eligible for June’s draft in Nashville.
He didn’t expect any of that. Not even close.
“No, not at all,” he told The Athletic when asked, laughing. “I mean, I wouldn’t say I had a weak year the year before but I was pretty shocked. My goal was to play good minutes in the U20 league and maybe, maybe if I was lucky I got to do an SHL debut. I’m pleasantly surprised that it has gone so good.”
And Max Bultman offered a late-night, first-day wrap-up:
If you’re not going to land the generational talent like Bedard, you still have to be able to stop him. And so, yes, when Bedard pointed to [Nate] Danielson as a tough matchup, it caught Detroit’s attention.
“That kind of stands out in an interview,” Draper said. “So when we heard that, that was something that put a little smile on our face. And same thing with Marco, obviously a very competitive player, very driven player, and we feel Nate’s kind of in that same mold as well. They don’t cheat the game, they’re responsible, they play the right way. It’s a 200-foot game and they have passion for the game, and like I said, the importance of trying to find centerman, trying to get them through the middle. The previous years before we hadn’t drafted centers, so this was an opportunity, and we were happy to get him.”
Danielson’s point totals may not jump off the page in the same way Bedard’s do, but at 78 points in 68 games, he still comes in fairly close to another recent WHL top-10 pick who would be an outstanding outcome for him: Sabres center Dylan Cozens, who had 84 in 68. Granted, Danielson has a late birthday, which is relevant when comparing stats in age-restricted junior hockey. But also relevant is the fact that Danielson was playing on a Brandon team that missed the playoffs and finished 10th in its division. It wasn’t the easiest environment to pile up points.
…
Sandin Pellikka is not without risk, of course — no defender his size is — but if he can become a top-four defenseman who takes key power-play minutes, pieces like that are rare and certainly easiest to acquire on nights like Wednesday, when that rarity isn’t being used against you.
“To find the right-shot ‘D’ and what we felt was the right kind of right-shot ‘D,’” Draper said. “Obviously we really like his hockey sense, we really like his poise with the puck. … He was 17 years old, he played in the World Juniors, by the end of the tournament he was running the power play, a big part of it. Saw him a lot in international play, playing for Team Sweden, the U18s on the Silver Medal team, running a power play, and that was the thing you just kept coming back to is: He’s really smart, he knows how to manage the game, he knows how to manage the puck, he has deception with it, and he really moves well on the offensive blue line as well.
“So we felt it was something that was important to bring into the prospect pool. We don’t have a lot of right-shot ‘D’ men, either.”
F. Detroit Hockey Now: Detroit Hockey Now’s Tim Robinson posted a combined article about the prospects…
“To hear my name actually called by Steve Yzerman, I didn’t really believe it at first,” Danielson said. A strong interview at the combine earlier this month had given him an idea the Wings were interested. “I definitely thought it, but it doesn’t feel real until it actually happens.”
Danielson led the Brandon Wheat Kings with 33 goals and 45 assists last season.
With their second first-round pick at No. 17, which came in the Filip Hronek deal from Vancouver, the Wings picked Swedish defenseman Axel Sandin Pellikka.
Sandin Pellikka played for Skelleftea of the Swedish Hockey League. He’s an offensive defenseman whose playmaking ability, shot and mobility, among other things, made him a top prospect.
“It’s an unbelievable feeling, a sigh of relief,” Sandin Pellikka said. “Just getting up to hug my parents, my siblings, it’s an incredible feeling. I’m so happy to be a part of the Detroit Red Wings.”
And Bob Duff spoke with Steve Yzerman and Kris Draper about Danielson…
Connor Bedard, the No. 1 overall pick of the 2023 NHL entry draft, counts Danielson among his closest friends and most difficult opponents. It was the latter aspect of the relationship that the Red Wings found most appealing.
“One of the things that was interesting for us was Connor Bedard talking about in the West,” Red Wings director of amateur scouting Kris Draper explained. “Danielson was one of the toughest players to play against. That kind of stands out in an interview. When we heard that, it was something that put a little smile on our face.”
In one fell swoop, Detroit GM Steve Yzerman went off the board and played it safe when he was tabbing Brandon Wheat Kings center Danielson with the ninth overall selection of the NHL entry draft.
“We like all parts of his game,” Yzerman said of the 6-foot-2, 187-pound center. “He’s got pretty good size, he’s a good skater, he’s got good skills. He’s a good two-way centerman. A lot to like about him really. Just a solid all-around prospect.”
While Kevin Allen spoke with Draper about Sandin Pellikka:
TSN Analyst Craig Button believes the Red Wings landed the best puck-moving defenseman in this year’s draft class. And he can do much more.
“He commands the game everywhere,” Button said. “He’s a good defender.”
The Red Wings need a pure power play quarterback and Sandin Pellikka projects to be that guy. The bonus for Detroit is that Sandin Pellikka is a right-hand shot D man and those are in short supply for the Red Wings
“It was important to find the right-shot D and the right kind of right-shot D.” said Kris Draper, Detroit’s Director of Amateur Scouting. “We really like his hockey sense, we really like his poise with the puck. He was 17 years old, he played in the world juniors. By the end of the tournament he was running the power play, a big part of it.”
G. 97.1 the Ticket: Will Burchfield posted articles regarding Danielson…
“I think my skating is one of my best parts of my game,” he said. “Also think I have a very well-rounded game. Defensively very responsible and offensively very creative and skilled,” he said.
Danielson, who turns 19 in September, added that “it’s been a dream of mine ever since I was little to get drafted, so to be part of the Red Wings, I’m super excited.”
Asked about the Red Wings’ outlook coming off the team’s seventh straight season missing the playoffs, matching a franchise-worst drought, Yzerman said Detroit is still rebuilding after selling off players for draft picks at this year’s trade deadline.
“With the picks we have with the moves we made at the deadline, we’re still in a rebuilding phase, collecting assets through the draft,” Yzerman said. “We’re still there. We’re not at a point where we feel like we can really start to go for it, so to speak.
“We’re progressing and I hope to be there sooner than later, but where we are, again, is trying to use these draft picks, use them wisely, and build a stable of good young players.”
And Sandin Pellikka…
“I’ve had great talks with Detroit before,” he said on ESPN shortly after being drafted. “I had a great feeling when they were going up to pick, and I was very happy when they picked me.”
The 5’11 Sandin Pellikka doesn’t have the size that Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman has prioritized on the blueline, but he has a high ceiling as a puck-mover and scorer. He’s a right-hand shot who put up 36 points in 31 games this season in Sweden’s top junior league, where he earned best defenseman honors. He was also named best defenseman at the U18 Worlds this spring.
Yzerman has bolstered Detroit’s defensive corps from the moment he arrived and drafted Moritz Seider sixth overall. He’s since added Simon Edvinsson and William Wallinder, who should play meaningful roles for the Wings next season, and trade acquisition Jake Walman. Sandin Pellikka is the latest addition to what could be an elite blueline in the future.
He’s also the latest in a long line of Swedish players called to Detroit, including Hall of Fame defenseman Nicklas Lidstrom and two of Yzerman’s first-round picks in Edvinsson and Lucas Raymond. He said the Red Wings’ “Swedish scouts talked to me a lot” this season “and they liked me.”
“I have a great feeling about the organization,” said Sandin Pellikka, “and I’m excited to join them.”
H. WXYZ: Brad Galli posted a video report regarding the Wings’ first round haul (but it’s not embeddable)….
I. And DetroitRedWings.com’s Jonathan Mills posted a first-day wrap-up…
“Honestly, I didn’t really believe it,” Danielson said about being drafted by Detroit. “A dream come true ever since I was a little kid. So to hear my name actually called from Steve Yzerman, I didn’t really believe it at first.”
Danielson’s well-rounded game impressed the Red Wings’ amateur scouting department, according to Yzerman.
“We like all parts of his game,” Yzerman said. “He’s got pretty good size. He’s a good skater, he’s got good skills and is a good two-way centerman. A lot to like about him, really. Just a solid, all-around prospect.”
…
“Just a sigh of relief, an unbelievable feeling,” Sandin Pellikka said about hearing his name called by Detroit. “Just getting up to hug my parents, siblings, grandma and grandpa, agent – it’s an unexplainable feeling. I’m so happy to be part of the Detroit Red Wings.”
In 22 games with Skellefteå AIK, Sandin Pellikka recorded five points on two goals and three assists as well as a plus-2 rating. His five points were the most of any defenseman 18 years of age or younger in the country’s highest professional league.
“I think he’s a good offensive d-man,” Yzerman said about Sandin Pellikka. “He skates well, has good puck skills and a very good hockey sense. A little bit different than what we have in our system, so I think it was a good fit.”
Which the Wings accompanied with clips of the players, GM and director of amateur scouting’s media availabilities:
II. The National Takes:
A. NHL.com’s Adam Kimelman issued first-round analysis:
9. Detroit Red Wings — Nate Danielson, C, Brandon (WHL)
NHL Central Scouting: No. 7 (North American skaters)
Danielson (6-1, 186) made one of the most significant jumps in Central Scouting’s final rankings, from No. 13 on the midterm list. The 18-year-old led Brandon in goals (33), assists (45), points (78), power-play goals (13) and short-handed goals (three), and tied for the lead in game-winning goals (five) in 68 games. A dynamic skater with good speed who can play all situations, Danielson also led Brandon with 667 face-off wins on 1,267 chances (52.6 percent).
NHL.com analysis: Danielson stood out on a Brandon team that struggled this season, and scouts were impressed with how he continued to develop the offensive side of his game to complement a defensive game that Bedard said made him the most difficult player to skate against in his draft class. With Dylan Larkin entrenched as the Red Wings’ No. 1 center, having a player with Danielson’s skill set gives Detroit enviable depth at the position moving forward.
…
17. Detroit Red Wings — Axel Sandin Pellikka, D, Skelleftea Jr. (SWE-JR)
NHL Central Scouting ranking: No. 7 (International skaters)
Sandin Pellikka (5-11, 180) had 36 points (16 goals, 20 assists) in 31 games in Sweden’s junior league. The 18-year-old right-handed shot also made his Swedish Hockey League debut this season with five points (two goals, three assists) and an average ice time of 8:34 in 22 games. Sandin Pellikka was second among defensemen at the 2023 IIHF World Under-18 Championship with 11 points (two goals, nine assists) in seven games to help Sweden win the silver medal.
NHL.com analysis: After shoring themselves at center with Danielson, the Red Wings add arguably the most offensively gifted defenseman in the draft. Adding Sandin Pellikka’s offensive gifts to a defense corps that already includes emerging stars Simon Edvinsson and Moritz Seider is another outstanding building block. Sandin Pellikka still needs to get stronger and more adept in defending, but he projects to be a top-pair right-shot defenseman who can run a power play whenever he comes to the NHL.
The NHL posted video interviews with both players as well:
B. USA Today/The Red Line Report’s Kyle Woodlief weighed in…
9. Detroit Red Wings – Center Nate Danielson, Brandon: Strong two-way center is not flashy and definitely underappreciated. Does everything for a middling Brandon team: he’s their captain, first line center, first unit PP and first unit PK. Hard worker gives you his all every shift and his hard-nosed playing style will translate well at the next level. He’s effective and persistent on the forecheck and comes back hard on the backcheck. He’s elite in transition, strong on his skates with a powerful stride, accelerates effortlessly with crossovers, is a fantastic distributor and has a finisher’s touch in tight. Does solid work battling pucks out from the defensive end, giving his body up along the wall. Rugged and hard working in all three zones with a fundamentally sound two-way game and pro size. He brings a pro-style polish and smoothness to his game that coaches will love.
…
17. Detroit Red Wings (from New York Islanders via Vancouver Canucks) – Defenseman Axel Sandin-Pellikka, Skelleftea (Sweden)
Terrific four-way skater is dominant at the offensive end, making smart decisions to get pucks to the net with traffic in front. Moves so well and instinctively along the offensive blue line. Easily the best power play QB in the draft – supremely imaginative playmaker. Distributes the puck crisply and gets it to the right spots with touch – perfectly placed passes set his teammates up on a tee. Makes smart defensive zone exits and crisp stretch passes moving up ice with his head up. There’s never any panic in his game – so calm and unruffled with the puck on his stick. Controls the pace of the game with his superb puckhandling wizardry. Fantastic escapability – routinely eludes forecheckers in tight corners with head feints and sharp spins. Makes the short saucer pass off both sides of the blade so well. Defends with a quick stick, and despite average size, is willing to use the body in battles.
C. ESPN: Greg Wyshynski and Kristen Shilton offered analysis…
9. Detroit Red Wings: Nate Danielson, C
Team: Brandon (WHL) | Rank: NAS7
DOB: 09/27/04 | Ht: 6-1.5 | Wt: 185 | Shot: R
2022-23 stats: GP: 68 | G: 33 | A: 45 | P: 78How he fits: The Red Wings went with another skilled forward in Danielson. A standout with the WHL’s Brandon Wheat Kings, Danielson put up 33 goals and 78 points in 68 games last season. He’s a particularly strong player off the rush and gains speed entering the zone to throw defensemen into a spin cycle. Danielson’s strong skating allows him to get creative attacking the zone and finding holes. — Shilton
…
17. Detroit Red Wings: Axel Sandin Pellikka, D
Team: Skelleftea Jr. (SWEDEN) | Rank: INS7
DOB: 03/11/05 | Ht: 5-10.75 | Wt: 176 | Shot: R
2022-23 stats: GP: 31 | G: 16 | A: 20 | P: 36How he fits: Steve Yzerman and Co. went for a true offensive defenseman prospect in Pellikka. Considered by some scouts to be the best blueliner available in the draft, Pellikka fits into what the Red Wings ultimately want to be, which is a deep skill team. Pellikka is often compared to Kris Letang — he’s dangerous with the puck on his stick with the shot and vision to match. But Pellikka is a solid defender around his own net and along the boards, too. Detroit may not be in a win-now position, but by the time Pellikka is joining their bench the Red Wings should be fully ready to benefit from his two-way contributions. — Shilton
D. Daily Faceoff’s Steven Ellis offered a set of capsule takes on the first round’s picks, as well as dedicated articles regarding Danielson…
“Danielson feels like a “safe” pick. I’m not sure he’s more than a 45-50 point guy in the NHL, but he’s consistent and valuable enough at both ends of the ice that he’ll have a solid, young career. You won’t find a ton of 18-year-old captains, either.”
Danielson is the first selection by the Red Wings in the first round of the 2023 draft. Barring any trades, the Red Wings will make their next pick in the first round with the No. 17 overall selection.
Danielson joins a prospect pool on Red Wings consisting of Marco Kasper, Carter Mazur and more. They used their 2022 first-round pick on Kasper.
The Red Wings finished with a 35-37-10 record in the 2022-23 season, giving them 80 points which was good enough for 7th in the Atlantic Division and 24th in the league. They missed the playoffs as a result, the 7th consecutive season that they did so.
And Matt Larkin offered this take on Sandin Pellikka:
Sandin Pellikka, 18, is an offensive defenseman known for his immense hockey intelligence. He doesn’t bring an imposing frame at 5-foot-11 and 182 pounds, but his IQ and ability to play in all situations make him fit the ideal of a modern two-way defenseman, helping his team to drive play and maintain puck control.
Sandin Pellikka lit up the IIHF Under-18 World Championship for 11 points in nine games with the silver medal-winning Team Sweden this spring en route to being named the tournament’s top defenseman. Playing for Skelleftea, he tore up the junior (under-20) Swedish circuit for 36 points, including 16 goals, in 31 games in 2022-23 and was named the league’s top defenseman. He also played 22 games against men for Skelleftea in Sweden’s top pro league, the SHL. He has run circles around his own contemporaries this season but was perceived by scouts to have played more tentatively against men. Given his relatively slight frame, it’s conceivable that he’ll need an least another year of seasoning overseas before he makes the jump to North America.
Still, Sandin Pellikka’s poise and versatility give him undeniable upside as a potential top-four blueliner at the NHL level, playing a position that is pretty much always at a premium. In a draft field skewing heavier toward top-end forward talent, he has as much potential as anyone to emerge as the best defenseman in the class of 2023.
E. The Athletic: Corey Pronman offered his takes on the Wings’ picks as part of a larger article on the 32 first round picks, and Scott Wheeler deemed the Wings to be “overtime losers” because they played it safe:
Pick: 9. Nate Danielson
My ranking: No. 20Pick: 17. Axel Sandin Pellikka
My ranking: No. 16There may not be a player in this draft class who fits the way the Red Wings have drafted in recent years more than Danielson, a well-rounded, projectable, high-floor centre who skates well and plays the game with detail and above-average skill. I did wonder, though, given how many middle-six types they have and the desperate need for more skill at the top of that lineup, whether they’d take more of a swing this time around. They didn’t. Danielson will be a good NHL player. He and Marco Kasper are probably your second- and third-line centres of the future down the middle. Is he talented enough, at No. 9, for a team that feels like it has a talent deficiency relative to the rest of the Atlantic Division? I’d argue not.
I do like the Sandin Pellikka pick. He plays a premium position as a right-shot defenceman, he was my No. 2-ranked defenceman in this draft and they got him as the fourth D taken, his confident offensive game and dangerous shot give him legit power-play upside, and he plays a really hard, competitive style at 5-foot-11 (this is a kid who led his junior team in penalty minutes, plays tight gaps and steps up to the physical challenge in battles). There’s a lot to like about a nucleus of Moritz Seider, Simon Edvinsson and ASP on that back end long-term, and they all give you something a little different.
F. Flohockey’s Chris Peters had this to say about the Wings’ picks…
No. 9 Detroit Red Wings Select: Nate Danielson, C
Scouting Report
Nate Danielson is a rangy two-way center who came it at No. 13 on FloHockey’s Top 100. He has skill, moves pucks well and can get to the net. He has a nice shot, too. Danielson has good effort off the puck and can make plays to the interior. He was on a weaker team so his offensive numbers don’t pop. He doesn’t have that dynamic skillset that gets you out of your seat, but he is efficient and he competes. He could top out as a No. 2 center if everything goes right.
Instant Analysis
The Red Wings are getting stronger down the middle after addressing wings and defense more recently. He has a lot of potential to make an impact in about two years as a middle-six center but could round out into a strong No. 2 option behind Dylan Larkin should he hit all the right benchmarks. His two-way play is definitely bringing enhanced value to the Red Wings. He isn’t an exciting pick, but he’s one that feels like he’s going to play and potentially play a bigger role on a team that is taking a few more steps in the right direction.
No. 17 Detroit Red Wings Select: Axel Sandin Pellikka, D
Scouting Report
Axel Sandin Pellikka was the No. 2 defenseman on FloHockey’s Top 100, coming in at No. 16 overall. He is a two-way defenseman who moves pucks well and is among the better offensive-minded blueliners in this class. ASP is a transporter in that he can skate pucks out or deliver them expertly to teammates. He was an underage defenseman on Sweden’s World Junior team and became their No. 1 D in terms of minutes. Playing professionally this year, he was challenged physically as he is a 5-11 defenseman. His ability to aid his team’s puck possession is special as he holds pucks and makes plays with such poise. He doesn’t have dynamic puck skills, but he has great touch on the puck and makes high-end decisions.
Instant Analysis
Shocker: The Detroit Red Wings draft a Swedish defenseman. In all seriousness, a right-shot puckmover is a great fit for them long term. ASP will be playing for Skelleftea next year in the SHL and probably will need some time in the AHL before he’s NHL ready. The Red Wings are always patient with prospects and they should be with Sandin Pellikka as well. But with Moritz Seider and Simon Edvinsson already on their blue line, getting a top four that includes ASP seems like they’re getting set up for the long-term here. His maturity surely had to speak to the Red Wings.
G. The Hockey News: The Hockey News also posted a set of capsule takes on the first round picks…
9. Detroit Red Wings: Nate Danielson, C, Brandon (WHL), 6-foot-1, 185 pounds
The Detroit Red Wings have made a habit in recent years of taking the player that projects to an NHL lineup safely, albeit with questionable upside. Danielson fits that mold again. His speed and straight-line skill allow him to be a very effective transition player, but he is a plan-A offensive player who struggles when his first attempt is thwarted. It will be interesting to see how Danielson’s high floor helps the Red Wings down the line with other prospects of a similar ilk in the system already. (Tony Ferrari)
17. Detroit Red Wings (from NYI via VAN): Axel Sandin Pellikka, RHD, Skelleftea (SHL), 5-foot-11, 176 pounds
The calculus with Sandin Pellikka is pretty simple at this point: how much do you knock him for his frame? “In terms of actual on-ice play, Sandin Pellikka is the top defenseman,” said one scout. Either way, ‘ASP’ has impressed, both at the world juniors in a depth role and at the U-18s, where he was one of the top-scoring rearguards in the tournament for a strong Swedish side. (NHL Draft Preview)
