RD Axel Sandin Pellikka - Skellefteå, SHL (2023, 17th, DET)

[FriendlyGhost92]

TBF bench is one of the least important combine metrics out there.

Pretty sure shorter guys typically do better on the bench.

 

[Hazy Little Thing]

Pretty sure shorter guys typically do better on the bench.

Shorter arms*

 

[ItWasJustified]

He's the right-shot left flank shooter, ya. Wing fans keep salivating over him being the PPQB of the future, but he's more like DeBrincat on the PP.

He was the PPQB his first SHL games last season. He looked like a SHL veteran even then and in that role.

 

[Ricelund]

Red Wings prospect Axel Sandin Pellikka is having a 'wow' season

Sandin Pellikka, the Red Wings' No. 17 pick in the 2023 NHL Draft, is a returnee at the world juniors at age 18.

theathletic.com

Ask Skellefteå general manager Erik Forssell and he’ll go straight to the point, too.

“Axel is very good,” Forssell will say. “His ceiling is really high. His ceiling is basically like he could be one of the best players in the world. There’s a long way to go to become that but he has all of those tools.”

Ask Pierre Johnsson, an assistant coach (focusing on the defensemen) with Skellefteå and the national team, about him and he responds with an exclamation of “Ou-ee.”

“He’s going to have a huge impact on Detroit for the future,” Johnsson said on a recent phone call. “I really believe that. I think he’s going to be a difference-maker in the NHL for sure.”

 

[Ricelund]

 

[Szechwan]

Redeemed himself with that one after some questionable decisions this game

 

[Ricelund]

 

[TheMule93]

 

[DeltaSwede]

Really surprised by this. I didn't think ASP had a particularly strong showing during the tournament. Quite a mixed bag of highs and lows. Lindstein, Willander and Hävelid all had stronger tournaments IMO and that's just on team Sweden.

 

[schuelma24]

Really surprised by this. I didn't think ASP had a particularly strong showing during the tournament. Quite a mixed bag of highs and lows. Lindstein, Willander and Hävelid all had stronger tournaments IMO and that's just on team Sweden.

 

[LeProspector]

I thought he was real bad in the qualifying games but against the Swiss and Czechs he was very good, then again in the gold medal game against the US he went back to being bad.

I wouldn‘t have picked him as best defender on his team, let alone the tournament. All three of Willander, Lindstein and Havelid I thought were better throughout.

Hamara, Strbak, Dionicio, Buium, Hutson, Lamoureux and Kulonummi were all hands down better in my opinion, along with the aforementioned Swedish defenders.


I think it always speaks volumes when a player doesn’t make the tournament all star team yet wins defender or the tournament. The process is heavily flawed.

 

[jackjohnson]

I thought willander was better than ASP, definitely when it came to defense

 

[Christien]

Meh, I thought he was just fine this tournament, but none of the Swedish defencemen particularly stood out (which is good), except for Lindstein, who had an excellent tournament. ASP was the best defender at moving the puck for Sweden and was relatively sound defensively. I mentioned previously in another thread that it would have been nice to see him moved to the 2nd powerplay to give him some time in that left circle to rip some one-timers since he plays that position on his SHL club's powerplay unit.

Overall, a pretty impressive tournament for him being the youngest defender on Sweden. I am expecting him dominate the tournament next season

 

[VictorLustig]

I was not overly impressed with Willander. He definitely made more mistakes than ASP in the defensive zone and was not nearly as good in the transition game. Neither was Lindstein who I thought struggled quite a bit the last 3 games.

ASP was the best Swedish D but not the best in the tournament.

 

[Zetterberg4Captain]

Sometimes the stats and some fans eye tests dont align...then what do you do?

 

[BKarchitect]

Sometimes the stats and some fans eye tests dont align...then what do you do?

Well around these parts, generally you pick the one that reinforces your narrative and say the other side have it wrong.

 

[Frenzy31]

I was not overly impressed with Willander. He definitely made more mistakes than ASP in the defensive zone and was not nearly as good in the transition game. Neither was Lindstein who I thought struggled quite a bit the last 3 games.

ASP was the best Swedish D but not the best in the tournament.

Lindstein was the best dman on Sweden. He wasn’t on the ice for a single goal against until the gold metal game. That pairing didn’t struggle the last 3 game.

Finished with more points and a +9. Without the PP time.

ASP finished with a -2. Come on man.

 

[Roomba With a Bauer]

I think ASP getting the award was partially a reputation issue. He's having a historic season in the SHL.

Same thing happens every season in the NHL when better players lose out on awards if their team misses the playoffs.

 

[Zetterberg4Captain]

Well around these parts, generally you pick the one that reinforces your narrative and say the other side have it wrong.

Bingo

 

[LeProspector]

Well around these parts, generally you pick the one that reinforces your narrative and say the other side have it wrong.

Agreed, these Red Wings fans are terrible.

 

[DeltaSwede]

I was not overly impressed with Willander. He definitely made more mistakes than ASP in the defensive zone and was not nearly as good in the transition game. Neither was Lindstein who I thought struggled quite a bit the last 3 games.

ASP was the best Swedish D but not the best in the tournament.

In an alternate universe you get this perspective. What were you watching?

 

[JediOrderPizza]

Excited, thought he had a good tournament.

 

[Christien]

Played through an injury in the gold medal game. Hopefully he isn’t out long term

 

[TheMule93]

.

 

[Rowlet]

In an alternate universe you get this perspective. What were you watching?

Literally zero correct thoughts, shockingly bad understanding.

Lindstein was the best dman on Sweden. He wasn’t on the ice for a single goal against until the gold metal game. That pairing didn’t struggle the last 3 game.

Finished with more points and a +9. Without the PP time.

ASP finished with a -2. Come on man.

Same as Willander