DetroitRedWings.com’s Jonathan Mills had a conversation with Red Wings prospect Axel Sandin Pellikka recently, asking ASP about the World Junior Championship and his season with Skelleftea AIK of the SHL:
Now back with Skellefteå AIK in the Swedish Hockey League, Sandin-Pellikka is determined to elevate his defensive game. As for his offensive game, he said he feels like he “wants to have the puck a little more this season and make plays all the time.”
In 27 contests with Skellfteå AIK this season, Sandin-Pellikka has notched 22 points (eight goals, 14 assists), the most points among any U-26 blueliner in the SHL.
“I’m trying to get stronger all the time because [the NHL] is going to be a tougher league when I try to make the jump, so just making sure I’m ready on the defensive side,” he said. “I’m not the biggest defenseman, but being smart is important for me. Other than that, I try to work on pretty much everything, even the things I’m good at.”
As of Tuesday, Skellefteå AIK ranked seventh in the SHL with a 14-2-2-15 (W-OTW-OTL-L) overall record.
“We’re doing good things overall and going to get better and better,” Sandin-Pellikka said. “We’ll for sure start climbing in the rankings as soon as possible.”
Detroit’s second first-round selection (No. 17 overall) in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft, Sandin-Pellikka added that he’s enjoyed spending time with his new Skellefteå AIK teammate and fellow Red Wings first-round prospect Michael Brandsegg-Nygård, a 19-year-old forward chosen No. 15 overall in 2024.
“He uses his size very well,” Sandin-Pellikka said about Brandsegg-Nygård, who has logged 10 points (five goals, five assists) in 25 SHL games this season. “I know he hits people. He’s a real power forward and has a wicked shot. We’re roommates [on the road], so I’ve been getting to know him a little bit better. It’s hard to understand him sometimes when he speaks Norwegian, but he’s a great guy and we have a lot of fun together. He’s an awesome, strong player. He’s going to do well in the future.”
Continued; it’s almost a relief that the disappointment of not going home with a medal at the World Junior Championship seems to have faded a bit for Sandin Pellikka.
