FloHockey’s Chris Peters weighed in this evening with articles discussing the best performers from Team USA‘s two squads at the World Junior Summer Showcase, as well as Teams Sweden and Finland, and he offers the following takes on two promising Red Wings Swedes:
Anton Johansson, D (Detroit Red Wings): Johansson likely wrote his name in ink on Sweden’s [World Junior Championship] roster with his performance. He has the right mix of size and skill to be a threat at both ends of the ice. His puck skills and footwork have vastly improved, which makes him a more credible offensive threat. He had three points in the event over the three games he played and was noticeable every single time out.
Axel Sandin-Pellikka, D (Detroit Red Wings): Highly skilled and mobile, Sandin-Pellikka had one quiet game of the three he played in, but his last two were fairly solid. He’s strong despite his lack of size and his offensive instincts are high-end. He played a good two-way game and scored one of the better goals of the event, cutting through defenders before snapping a quick shot off. As a returning player, he’ll likely be in a big role at the tournament.
Continued; as I noted in tonight’s impressions from Friday at the World Junior Summer Showcase, Johansson sat out Friday’s 5-4 loss to USA Blue, but he’s a prime example of how far a player can come in a developmental year;
As far as Sandin Pellikka is concerned, he’s working on putting his game together while playing against men on a full-time basis this year with Skelleftea AIK, and his skill set is truly elite. It’s a matter of finding a toolbox for all those fine wrenches and hammers and saws.
