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Red Wings Prospect Chasing Swedish Hockey History

Sandin Pellikka could set goal-scoring mark

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Axel Sandin Pellikka, Red Wings prospect
Red Wings prospect Axel Sandin Pellikka could be the highest-scoring teenaged defenseman in SHL history.

Detroit Red Wings prospect Axel Sandin Pellikka is off to another hot start in the Swedish Hockey League season. Playing for defending league champions Skelleftea AIK, the defenseman chosen 17th overall by Detroit in the 2023 NHL entry draft is already showing three goals and four assists through eight games of the season.



Taking into account his output last season, Sandin Pellikka, 19, has now scored 15 goals in the SHL. The record for goals by a teenaged defenseman in the SHL is 23, set by former New York Islanders defenseman Tomas Jonsson. Former Red Wings rearguard Ulf Samuelsson (17) and current NHLer Nils Lundkvist (16) of the Dallas Stars also rank ahead of Sandin Pellikka on this list.

He should soon be eclipsing both of those players. And if he can score another nine goals this season, Sandin Pellikka will be finishing as the No. 1 teen sensation in terms of goals by an under-20 defenseman in SHL history.

Sandin Pellikka’s Helping Hand

Sandin Pellikka was collecting an assist as Skelleftea edged Germany’s Pinguins Bremerhaven 3-2 in overtime in Champions Hokcey League action o Monday. He saw 16:29 of ice time, finishing with two shots and two blocked shots.

Winger Michael Brandsegg-Nygard (15th overall, 2024) was also playing in this game. Though he was held off the scoresheet, Brandsegg-Nygard played an impressive 19:56. He put two shots on net and blocked a shot.

In an interview with Swedish website Expressen, Brandsegg-Nygard was talking about his NHL preseason experience with the Red Wings. Specifically, he was discussing laying out Chicago Blackhawks superstar Connor Bedard with a stiff bodycheck.

“I thought afterwards, ‘Damn, now it could be a fight,'” Brandsegg-Nygard said.