RD Axel Sandin Pellikka - Skellefteå, SHL (2023, 17th, DET)
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I have him as a top 10 pick, was really impressed by his play the U20 as an underager.
Of course there is risk in picking those kind of players (smooth skating Ds that are not the biggest), but as for a homerun pick, it is as good as it gets. Potential is huge. Very, very gifted skater, great vision, awesome hands... I'd say he has the best hands for defenseman I've seen since Makar. His domination in his age group is impressive, he's almost always the best player on the ice.
Could also not develop physically and bust.
Reminds me of Q. Hughes, but he's quite a bit bigger in his draft year and he's right handed as well. Hughes went top 10 in a way weaker draft year, I think the team thay drafts him in the 10-20 range will be very, very glad.
Of course there is risk in picking those kind of players (smooth skating Ds that are not the biggest), but as for a homerun pick, it is as good as it gets. Potential is huge. Very, very gifted skater, great vision, awesome hands... I'd say he has the best hands for defenseman I've seen since Makar. His domination in his age group is impressive, he's almost always the best player on the ice.
Could also not develop physically and bust.
Reminds me of Q. Hughes, but he's quite a bit bigger in his draft year and he's right handed as well. Hughes went top 10 in a way weaker draft year, I think the team thay drafts him in the 10-20 range will be very, very glad.
How does he compare to:
Liljegren, Soderstrom, Boqvist?
I feel like there's a Swedish RHD whirling-dervish of a Dman in every class...
Edit: Add Nils Lundkvist to the list as well
Liljegren, Soderstrom, Boqvist?
I feel like there's a Swedish RHD whirling-dervish of a Dman in every class...
Edit: Add Nils Lundkvist to the list as well
Dead Coyote
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toddkaz
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This was my point when the other poster commented. There are a lot of undersized European defenseman that excel in Europe and come over and have trouble in the NHL handling bigger players and smaller ice surface.
Other than size, he’s very different from all of them.
His skating, hands, shot, and puck handling are considerably better than those names mentioned above at the same age.
He’s 5’11 181lbs at 17. Same size as Makar, and bigger than Quinn Hughes and Fox and other top D considered undersized.
Strength would be the main concern but he’s almost certainly going to gain some pounds and perhaps gain an inch when he’s finished growing.
ASP is a work in progress but I have no doubts he can become a #2-4 defenseman in the NHL with potential to become a #1 defenseman. Of all draft eligible defenseman, he has the highest ceiling, and it’s not really close at all.
toddkaz
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No chance he will be a #1 he doesn't have the physical tools. Boqvist was higher rated during his draft year.
McMozesmadness
5-14-6-1
He was streets ahead of any other player in the game today
His skating is dynamic yet effortless. The Canadians couldn’t touch him. Whether it was his feet or a slick pass, when he was on the ice, the puck was constantly moving north
I was impressed with his game at the WJC. Specifically how he defended. How poised he was. The u18 he will get to showcase his upside as an offensive threat. Sometimes players who play pro in their draft year can get placed into a role. They’re worried about not making mistakes. A tournament against his peers is a perfect opportunity to impress. Showcase just how high end his game is
This draft is absolutely amazing
His skating is dynamic yet effortless. The Canadians couldn’t touch him. Whether it was his feet or a slick pass, when he was on the ice, the puck was constantly moving north
I was impressed with his game at the WJC. Specifically how he defended. How poised he was. The u18 he will get to showcase his upside as an offensive threat. Sometimes players who play pro in their draft year can get placed into a role. They’re worried about not making mistakes. A tournament against his peers is a perfect opportunity to impress. Showcase just how high end his game is
This draft is absolutely amazing
LeProspector
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Both are small swedish offensive defenders that have trouble With puck retrievals - very similar players in their draft years And in fact in my opinion Brannstrom was a much better player at the same age
Fox, Makar and Hughes don’t have physical tools, they’re #1’s respectively.
Agreed. ASP is a significantly better prospect than Brännström was in my eyes. ASP is a much better skater and much more at ease at the SHL level than Brännström was.
pgfan66
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This might be an unpopular opinion but I disagree. He ended up scoring a bunch of points and that’s why it looks like the performance of a lifetime on the scoresheet but he wasn’t far ahead of Lindstein or Willander.
I’m a big fan of Sandin Pellikka and he’s my top D for this draft, but others were really impressive too yesterday.
Bjornar Moxnes
Fordi fellesskap fungerer
WeThreeKings
Demidov is a HAB
I figured people would overrate this one game.
What did he do offensively that was so impressive - other than the point totals?
He's got a low panic threshold with the puck, he's a great skater, and he has a solid shot. But nothing he did today showed, what the rest of his season didn't show, any elite offensive tools there.
He's definitely an NHL defenseman but I still struggle to see what he will do offensively that will put him on PP1 in the NHL, and his size isn't going to make him an elite defender in the NHL unless he develops other tools to be a high-end defender.
Two of his assists were off vanilla zone entries that ended up in the net off a screen and one off a body deflection. His goal, he could have made a sandwich in the middle of the ice before uncorking it on Bjarnason who didn't make a save all night long.
What did he do offensively that was so impressive - other than the point totals?
He's got a low panic threshold with the puck, he's a great skater, and he has a solid shot. But nothing he did today showed, what the rest of his season didn't show, any elite offensive tools there.
He's definitely an NHL defenseman but I still struggle to see what he will do offensively that will put him on PP1 in the NHL, and his size isn't going to make him an elite defender in the NHL unless he develops other tools to be a high-end defender.
Two of his assists were off vanilla zone entries that ended up in the net off a screen and one off a body deflection. His goal, he could have made a sandwich in the middle of the ice before uncorking it on Bjarnason who didn't make a save all night long.
canuckslover10
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For the canucks I could see us grabbing him if Rienbacher isn't there although we will probably go bpa but I think ASP is gonna be a special player.
toddkaz
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So you think ASP is on the level with Makar, Hughes and Fox? Bold.
Is
So you think ASP is as good as Makar? Funny, why aren't you comparing ASP to Boqvist? So you think ASP will win the Norris one day too?
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Never said he was. YOU said he did not have the "physical tools" to be a #1.
Just pointing out that the best D in the world has the same "physical tools".
toddkaz
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Ok, but those are the best defensemen in the world. I am talking about ASP and you are deflecting to them. They aren't soft and played on a European surface. Many high skilled European defensemen come over and have trouble with the physical play in the NHL and smaller ice surface.
Unfortunately it will be 5 years to see where ASP pans out but I will put money on it he wont be a #1 defenseman in the NHL.
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As an aside in the ASP thread, I came out of that game particularly impressed with the pro style and smart decision making of Willander again.
That said, ASP certainly made the most of his opportunities and Canada gave him plenty.
Don't see how you can compare him to Soderstrom, except they are both Swedes.
How does ASP compare to Drysdale? I know he is out of mind due to his injury, but he is a smaller, but not tiny, Dman with exceptional skating, and vg+ skill.
How does ASP compare to Drysdale? I know he is out of mind due to his injury, but he is a smaller, but not tiny, Dman with exceptional skating, and vg+ skill.
Still, to say he has not the physical tools is wrong...
I mean, Makar himself had questions during his draft year. He was ranked on most lists from #8-15 OA, then rose at the end in the top 10. Everybody saw the skating and the vision/hands, but many were not sure he'd translate with his size and the fact he was playing against weak competition.
Karlsson was seen as a frail swedish offensive D and went mid 1st.
All that to say ASP is a high ceiling, high bust potential pick... I personally am very bullish on him. His performance at U20 as an underager was VERY impressive.
I am not surprised he dominates against his age group because... he always did.
He's firmly in my top 10, but I can see why people are reluctant to draft this kind of players with their early pick.
I think the team that will draft him will not regret its choice.
Drysdale is a good comparison. I’d probably have ASP higher than Drysdale was at the same age.
ASP blows Drysdale out the water in terms of offensive play however I do consider them relatively comparable defensively. That said, there’s a lot of rawness to ASP overall game and for this reason, I don’t expect ASP to make the jump to the NHL as quickly as Drysdale did.
Though I prefer the Montour comparable. As I’ve stated before, ASP’s puck handling and moving ability coupled with his skating makes him a lethal zone exit/entry demon. His agility and lateral movements allow him to quickly escape trouble. He plays a rambunctious style of hockey, much too loose at times, but versatile enough that he engages the forechecker and has a pesky presence. He loves to get into the mix of things and does appear to have a bit of a short temper. Defensive game is a work in progress, he can be caught puck watching a lot and get his defensive assignments crossed up with his defenders. His effort and lack of engagement is also a question mark as he tends to give up on plays when beat to the perimeter, and is lousy on the technicalities, electing to cheat some defense for offense.
