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

[Marc the Habs Fan]

Already a goal and an assist today.

Dude has been ridiculous in the U-18 so far.

 

[UrbanImpact]

Looks super dymanic and poised. He is going to creep in the top 10.

Could be a home run pick for whoever drafts him. He has a super super high ceiling.

However the bust factor is there as well. Bust in relation to where he will be picked.

I have no doubt he will be at least a 3rd pairing Dman in the NHL.

However if someone drafts him in the top 10, that might be considered a bust.


Home Run pick is this guy is a minute eating Dman that plays very smart positionally and oozes offensive potential.

 

[Buresflyingelbow]

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.

I agree after this tournament it’s Reinbacher or ASP for the Canucks. Both will be off the table after pick 11 and also both could be gone by then, that would leave a great forward prospect then.

 

[Eye of Ra]

Sandin is a swedish name, but pellikka is a finnish name. This reminds me of Magnus Pääjärvi Svensson, name-wise. Could be a bad sign.

 

[suovas]

Sandin is a swedish name, but pellikka is a finnish name. This reminds me of Magnus Pääjärvi Svensson, name-wise. Could be a bad sign.

MPS was great until he dropped Svensson from his jersey. As long as ASP doesnt repeat that mistake he should be fine.

 

[Gabrielor]

This is who Buffalo needs to pick.

 

[Janvonpobben]

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.

Whats with the swedish hate from you?

 

[LemonSauceD]

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.

ASP will be in the NHL within 2 years. He’ll probably start in the AHL next season.

 

[Ace]

This is who Buffalo needs to pick.

It could happen…but is that the right fit? They know they’re going to have Dahlin and Power for like…at least the next nine years. He doesn’t fit with either of them. You can put them together but then you’re taking away the advantage of having one on the ice for 45+ minutes a night. He’ll NEVER get pp time and his point totals wont be what people expect out of his draft spot. Seems like a bad idea.

They need a solid two way D to play with Power. Not someone Power has to cover for and neuter his own game for. Unless, again….you’re going to halve the ice time you have a stud D on the ice for by putting him and Dahlin together. The know what the next near decade looks like with their top 2 D. Pellikka doesn’t fit with either of them

and 13 is high for a guy who plays third pair minutes with no physical game, questionable D and no special teams opportunities

 

[Nipsey]

Incredible game so far.

 

[Hinterland]

ASP will be in the NHL within 2 years. He’ll probably start in the AHL next season.

I really hope not. Everything about this kid reminds me of Adam Boqvist and I don't mean this in a negative way. I really believe Boqvist's career was ruined because he was consistently exposed to situations he wasn't ready for. Whoever drafts this kid should realize that this is very much a project and not a finished product.

 

[Eye of Ra]

I really hope not. Everything about this kid reminds me of Adam Boqvist and I don't mean this in a negative way. I really believe Boqvist's career was ruined because he was consistently exposed to situations he wasn't ready for. Whoever drafts this kid should realize that this is very much a project and not a finished product.

boqvist career ruined is taking it too far. he is still young

 

[Hinterland]

boqvist career ruined is taking it too far. he is still young

But has barely made progress since getting drafted. Very disappointing. And that's not due to a lack of talent, it's because he was rushed and exposed over and over again. His NHL teams are guilty for ruining his development.

I hope whoever drafts this kid will be more patient and understanding.

 

[ItWasJustified]

He’ll probably start in the AHL next season.

That would be the worst thing an NHL team could do.

 

[Raistlin]

But has barely made progress since getting drafted. Very disappointing. And that's not due to a lack of talent, it's because he was rushed and exposed over and over again. His NHL teams are guilty for ruining his development.

I hope whoever drafts this kid will be more patient and understanding.

Quinn Hughes (same year) was physically overwhelmed playing on a team with no defensive consciousness in just his D+2. He was lucky he got a year of mentorship from Chris Tanev, otherwise, there is a good chance he goes the way of Boqvist also. He unsurprisingly wilted in his second year when he was exposed with no help at all, but has since claimed his place as a perennial Norris candidate. ASP will need significant sheltered deployment if he is to play in the NHL for his D+2 also, its folly to throw him to the wolves otherwise.

 

[Sliptip]

We should probably be careful with rushing him. While he has big upside, the inconsistency, sometimes not great puck protection and tendency to be dangerous defensively should at least tell us to have patience. Especially because he is not a monster skater either. Let him take a regular spot in the SHL, build some consistency and see where he goes in terms of development. I think watching his point totals from this U18 and just thinking that is the player he is is a bit premature, but the potential is definitely there.

 

[bringbacktheskate604]

Quinn Hughes (same year) was physically overwhelmed playing on a team with no defensive consciousness in just his D+2. He was lucky he got a year of mentorship from Chris Tanev, otherwise, there is a good chance he goes the way of Boqvist also. He unsurprisingly wilted in his second year when he was exposed with no help at all, but has since claimed his place as a perennial Norris candidate. ASP will need significant sheltered deployment if he is to play in the NHL for his D+2 also, its folly to throw him to the wolves otherwise.

The whole Tanev thing is so overblown. Quinns numbers were better away from Tanev,I'm not saying he didn't help but like Luke this year Tanev had his best numbers with Quinn. Luke is a 3rd pair D exactly how he's deployed everywhere except with Quinn.
In the covid shortened season the entire team sucked and Quinns main partners were Hamonic and Myers.

It's ridiculous to say that Quinns the superstar he is because he had Tanev his rookie season, exile using Bovqist as an example.
There were a lot of red flags with Bovqist in his draft year, while anyone with lick of sense new Quinn's combination of skating and high IQ was special.
The kid played for team USA in the World's at 18 and wasn't on the ice for 1 goal against, playing with grown men.

I think the reason Quinn was so good this year was simply a natural progression, very few D come in and are instantly great at D, Fox was a year older when he broke out defensively and Cale was the same age as Quinn when he had his breakout defensive year.

 

[bringbacktheskate604]

He's not wrong.

If you're not a high-end offensive defenseman that can occupy the top PP spot you're in trouble right now due to the new PP set-up where only 1 defenseman typically plays with 4 forwards.

Using an example from my own team, Erik Brannstrom put up similar numbers to ASP in Sweden but hasn't been able to do the same in the NHL, as he's the 3rd best PP QB option on the team behind Chabot and Sanderson, so he gets limited PP time.

In the past when two defensemen operated the points on each PP this would have been less of a problem. Now teams really only need two offensive D, and can even get away with one good offensive D for the top unit (which gets most of the PP time) and a two-way guy to handle the limited PP2 minutes.

There has been a big shift in the type of D drafted recently. Skating and IQ trump size and toughness, especially now that dmen can't hack and chop guys down in front of the net like previous.
The pp has nothing to do with it,it's all about transitioning the puck from one end to the other by passing, or lugging it out,c offense 5on5. You don't need to be big too do that

 

[OgeeOgelthorpe]

I really hope not. Everything about this kid reminds me of Adam Boqvist and I don't mean this in a negative way. I really believe Boqvist's career was ruined because he was consistently exposed to situations he wasn't ready for. Whoever drafts this kid should realize that this is very much a project and not a finished product.

ASP reminds me of something between Boqvist and Nils Lundqvist. Similar size as both, similar skillset and profile. Same weaknesses. I think ASP is fools gold as a prospect in the top 15. If you give him 2-3 years in Sweden and a year or two in the AHL he might be OK. I still don't get the warm and fuzzies from him as a prospect, though. Everytime I've seen him in Skelleftea this season I wasn't impressed with his defensive awareness or decision making.

 

[Hinterland]

ASP reminds me of something between Boqvist and Nils Lundqvist. Similar size as both, similar skillset and profile. Same weaknesses. I think ASP is fools gold as a prospect in the top 15. If you give him 2-3 years in Sweden and a year or two in the AHL he might be OK. I still don't get the warm and fuzzies from him as a prospect, though. Everytime I've seen him in Skelleftea this season I wasn't impressed with his defensive awareness or decision making.

I don't know if he's fools gold or in need of that much time but he shouldn't get treated the way Boqvist did, that's for sure.
I'm also pretty unimpressed with his performances but his talent is visible. He's a legit prospect but he's also a project. I hope whoever drafts him understands that.

 

[Lavar Ball]

As much emphasis as there is on this being a weak draft for Defenseman, it's really just weak draft for NA defenseman, the crop in Europe is quite promising.

My top 10 D:

1. Reinbacher
2. Sandin Pellikka
3. Gulyayev
4. Simashev
5. Willander
6. Morin
7. Lindstein
8. Dragicevic
9. Strbak
10. Molendyk

 

[OgeeOgelthorpe]

I don't know if he's fools gold or in need of that much time but he shouldn't get treated the way Boqvist did, that's for sure.
I'm also pretty unimpressed with his performances but his talent is visible. He's a legit prospect but he's also a project. I hope whoever drafts him understands that.

The reason I say fools gold is some people talk about what a great skater/puck mover he is but the problem is, for his size he's not an elite skater like any of the Hughes brothers or Jamie Drysdale or Jake Sanderson. Good skater? Definitely. But not not elite. And there are real questions regarding his defensive IQ or commitment to it. There's also an almost total lack of physicality to his game.

I'm not saying he's going to be a bust but players like him generally need a lot more development time. I wouldn't be comfortable picking him earlier than 17 or so. ASP is very skilled with the puck on his stick but is still a bit of a project.

 

[Hinterland]

The reason I say fools gold is some people talk about what a great skater/puck mover he is but the problem is, for his size he's not an elite skater like any of the Hughes brothers or Jamie Drysdale or Jake Sanderson. Good skater? Definitely. But not not elite. And there are real questions regarding his defensive IQ or commitment to it. There's also an almost total lack of physicality to his game.

I'm not saying he's going to be a bust but players like him generally need a lot more development time. I wouldn't be comfortable picking him earlier than 17 or so. ASP is very skilled with the puck on his stick but is still a bit of a project.

I think he's gonna go top15. Probably not much higher but top15 is likely I think. It's gonna be a gamble to take him this early but the talent is there.

 

[OgeeOgelthorpe]

I think he's gonna go top15. Probably not much higher but top15 is likely I think. It's gonna be a gamble to take him this early but the talent is there.

That's probably true. There's a lot of finesse in his game to like but he's had a few too many "controller unplugged" moments when defending the rush or the puck goes into his defensive corner that make me think his game is going to take a while before he gets regular ice even in the SHL.

 

[VictorLustig]

The reason I say fools gold is some people talk about what a great skater/puck mover he is but the problem is, for his size he's not an elite skater like any of the Hughes brothers or Jamie Drysdale or Jake Sanderson. Good skater? Definitely. But not not elite. And there are real questions regarding his defensive IQ or commitment to it. There's also an almost total lack of physicality to his game.

I'm not saying he's going to be a bust but players like him generally need a lot more development time. I wouldn't be comfortable picking him earlier than 17 or so. ASP is very skilled with the puck on his stick but is still a bit of a project.

My view on him is completely different. If there's anything I wouldn't question it would be his defensive game and effort level.

I'd be more concerned about his offensive game. He's not the most creative player with the puck on his stick and while he's a good skater, he ends up on the outside a lot.

ASP is mainly a good possession D-man. He doesn't give many pucks away, his gap control is very good and his breakout passes are excellent. I'd be surprised if he ever plays on a top PP-unit in the NHL though.