Future Considerations’ Michael Stahurski posted a lengthy article comparing and contrasting the two top defensive prospects taken in the 2023 NHL Draft in David Reinbacher (selected by Montreal 5th overall) and Axel Sandin Pellikka (selected by the Red Wings 17th overall).
I can’t share the entire article, but I can offer you something of a preview…
On the offensive end, Sandin Pellikka is a product of the modern game. Fifteen years ago, it was rare to see a defenseman standing under six feet tall, but today, size has become much less of an obstacle.
Though he averaged a goal every two games while playing in the J20, Sandin Pellikka is unlikely to have similar goal-scoring output at the professional level. What he will do, however, is continue to compile assists. As a puck-moving defenseman, Sandin Pellikka operates as a surgeon from his perch at the top of the offensive zone, piercing pucks through the smallest of windows. His ability to locate teammates all over the ice is unique, as he finds them in optimal scoring positions.
Goal scoring may not be his most substantial attribute, but his shot is still a weapon he’s learned to use effectively. His shot power could improve, but his placement benefits himself and his teammates. Recognizing shooting lanes as he walks the blue line, Sandin Pellikka likes to snap off shots, keeping them between knee and waist height, an ideal location for a screening forward to redirect the puck.
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Where Sandin Pellikka excels on the offensive end, his shortcomings become evident on defense. The physical aspect of the game troubles him as a blueliner needing to add some strength and stature to his game, as it’s the one facet where his size is a hindrance. Larger net-front forwards can cause mismatches he struggles to overcome. The same issue arises while battling for the puck along the boards, causing play to linger in the defensive end longer than necessary. Where he lacks physicality, he typically compensates with good positioning.
Continued (paywall)
