Axel Sandin-Pellikka
| Axel Sandin-Pellikka | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Born |
11 March 2005 Gällivare, Sweden | ||
| Height | 5 ft 11 in (180 cm) | ||
| Weight | 181 lb (82 kg; 12 st 13 lb) | ||
| Position | Defence | ||
| Shoots | Right | ||
| NHL team Former teams |
Detroit Red Wings Skellefteå AIK | ||
| NHL draft |
17th overall, 2023 Detroit Red Wings | ||
| Playing career | 2022–present | ||
Axel Sandin-Pellikka (born 11 March 2005) is a Swedish professional ice hockey player who is a defenceman for the Detroit Red Wings of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was drafted 17th overall by the Red Wings in the 2023 NHL entry draft.[1][2][3]
Playing career
Sandin-Pellikka played as a youth within Skellefteå AIK organization and made his professional debut in the Swedish Hockey League (SHL) during the 2022–23 season.[4][5]
In the 2023–24 season, Sandin-Pellikka played his first full season in the SHL with Skellefteå AIK, recording 10 goals and 18 points from the blueline in 39 games. His 10 goals were the most of any under-19 skater and he was named the recipient of the Salming Trophy as the best Swedish-born defenseman in the SHL.[6] Sandin-Pellikka helped Skellefteå AIK claim the Le Mat Trophy in winning the SHL championship, tallying 7 points in 14 playoff games.[7]
On 6 May 2024, Sandin-Pellikka was signed to a three-year, entry-level contract with the Detroit Red Wings.[8]
On 17 October 2025, Sandin-Pellikka scored his first NHL career goal for the Detroit Red Wings.[9] in a game against the Tampa Bay Lighting.
International play
| Medal record | ||
|---|---|---|
Representing  Sweden | ||
| Ice hockey | ||
| World Junior Championships | ||
.svg.png){kind=icon} | 2024 Sweden | |
| World U18 Championships | ||
| 2023 Sweden | |
Sandin-Pellikka represented Sweden at the 2024 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships and won a silver medal.
Personal life
Sandin-Pellikka is of Finnish descent through his father. The surname Pellikka is of Karelian origin.[10]
Career statistics
Regular season and playoffs
| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
| 2021–22 | Skellefteå AIK | J18 | 14 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 8 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2021–22 | Skellefteå AIK | J20 | 14 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 6 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2022–23 | Skellefteå AIK | J18 | — | — | — | — | — | 5 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2 | ||
| 2022–23 | Skellefteå AIK | J20 | 31 | 16 | 20 | 36 | 64 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | ||
| 2022–23 | Skellefteå AIK | SHL | 22 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2023–24 | Skellefteå AIK | SHL | 39 | 10 | 8 | 18 | 17 | 14 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 2 | ||
| 2024–25 | Skellefteå AIK | SHL | 46 | 12 | 17 | 29 | 22 | 11 | 1 | 7 | 8 | 2 | ||
| 2024–25 | Grand Rapids Griffins | AHL | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2025–26 | Detroit Red Wings | NHL | 68 | 7 | 14 | 21 | 18 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2025–26 | Grand Rapids Griffins | AHL | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 8 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 2 | ||
| SHL totals | 107 | 24 | 28 | 52 | 39 | 25 | 3 | 12 | 15 | 4 | ||||
| NHL totals | 68 | 7 | 14 | 21 | 18 | — | — | — | — | — | ||||
International
| Year | Team | Event | Result | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Sweden | HG18 |  |
5 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 6 | |
| 2023 | Sweden | WJC | 4th | 7 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 6 | |
| 2023 | Sweden | U18 | |
7 | 2 | 9 | 11 | 0 | |
| 2024 | Sweden | WJC | |
7 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 4 | |
| 2025 | Sweden | WJC | 4th | 7 | 4 | 6 | 10 | 6 | |
| Junior totals | 33 | 8 | 22 | 30 | 22 | ||||
Awards and honours
| Award | Year | Ref |
|---|---|---|
| SHL | ||
| Salming Trophy | 2024 | [6] |
| Le Mat Trophy | 2024 | [7] |
References
- ↑ Hamrin, Jimmy. "Sweden Stock Watch: Axel Sandin Pellikka's draft stock is soaring". eprinkside. Retrieved 19 January 2023.
- ↑ Roth, Thomas (29 June 2023). "Red Wings select defenseman Axel Sandin Pellikka 17th in 2023 NHL Draft | Detroit Red Wings". NHL.com. Retrieved 22 April 2026.
- ↑ Horn, Logan (24 December 2022). "2023 World Junior Championship: 2023 Draft Players to Watch". The Hockey Writers. Retrieved 19 January 2023.
- ↑ Bexell, Patrik. "WJC: Team Sweden preview & roster". MSN. Retrieved 19 January 2023.
- ↑ Kennedy, Ian (12 January 2023). "Midseason NHL Draft rankings: Connor Bedard headlines elite talent at the top". Yahoo. Retrieved 19 January 2023.
- 1 2 "Sandin-Pellikka collects Salming Trophy". The Hockey News. 5 April 2024. Retrieved 5 April 2024.
- 1 2 "Skellefteå är Svenska Mästare 2023/24!" [Skellefteå are Swedish Champions 2023/24!] (in Swedish). shl.se. 29 April 2024. Retrieved 30 April 2024.
- ↑ "Red Wings sign Axel Sandin Pellikka". Detroit Red Wings. 6 May 2024. Retrieved 7 May 2024.
- ↑ "Red Wings sign Axel Sandin Pellikka". Detroit Red Wings. 6 May 2024. Retrieved 7 May 2024.
- ↑ Suomalaistaustainen Axel Sandin Pellikka hioo taitojaan osaavassa ympäristössä: "Olen käyttänyt muovisia ukkoja, joiden ohi harhautan ja lauon", jatkoaika.com, 4 January 2023
External links
- Biographical information and career statistics from NHL.com, or Eliteprospects.com, or The Internet Hockey Database
- 2005 births
- Living people
- 21st-century Swedish sportsmen
- Detroit Red Wings draft picks
- Detroit Red Wings players
- Grand Rapids Griffins players
- Ice hockey people from Norrbotten County
- NHL first-round draft picks
- Sportspeople from Gällivare
- Skellefteå AIK players
- Swedish people of Finnish descent
- Swedish ice hockey defenceman stubs