Red Wings Notebook: Another Goal For Sandin Pellikka

The incredible season of Detroit Red Wings defense prospect Axel Sandin Pellikka just keeps on getting better. Thursday, he was picking up a goal and an assist as Skelleftea AIK was edging MoDo 5-4 in SHL action.

Actually, his goal was an all-Red Wings product. Sandin Pellikka, the player Detroit was making the 17th player chosen in the 2023 NHL entry draft, was scoring his goal on the rebound of a point shot taken by Michael Brandsegg-Nygard. The Red Wings were choosing the Norwegian forward with the 15th overall pick of the 2024 NHL entry draft.

Axel Sandin Pellikka(1st round’23 for Skellefteå) Goal🚨 point shot from Michael Brandsegg-Nygård (1st round’24) creates a rebound and ASP puts it home. #LGRW #Skeaik pic.twitter.com/m82WAoVyX1

— Red Wings Prospects (@LGRWProspects) December 5, 2024

Sandin Pellikka’s season ledger is now displaying eight goals and 13 assists. He leads all SHL defensemen in goals and points. As well, the 19 year old rates ninth overall in the league scoring race.

Earlier this week, Sweden was announcing Sandin Pellikka as captain of their squad that will compete later this month at the IIHF World Junior Championship in Ottawa. He was earning recognition as the top defenseman in last year’s tournament.

After Thursday’s win, Sandin Pellikka was also garnering praise from Modo coach Mattias Karlin.

“Swedish hockey should be proud,” Karlin was telling the Skelleftea AIK blog.

Former Red Wings defenseman Luke Witkowski was making his SHL debut for Skelleftea in this game.

Former Red Wings Playing For Czechs

Reigning world champions Czechia aren’t going to be part of the NHL’s Four Nations Tournament later this month. However, a day after the rosters for the four squads were revealed, the Czechs were announcing their country’s roster for next week’s Swiss Games.

We tip our hat, Zadina 🎩 @HCD_offiziell #nationalleague #icehockey #hcd #zämehcd pic.twitter.com/lpEJSB9lsK

— National League (@NLch_official) December 2, 2024

Among those who will be playing are two former Red Wings new plying their trade in Swirzerland – Dominik Kubalik and Filip Zadina.

Two other ex-Wings will playing for Sweden in that tournament. Forwards Mattias Brome and Jacob De La Rose are part of the Swedish roster.

Panik To KHL

Right-winger Richard Panik’s Red Wings career was certainly short-lived. Part of the package that came to Detroit from Washington in the 2021 Anthony Mantha-Jakub Vrana deal, Panik would play 12 games for the Wings in the 2020-21 season, collecting a goal and three assists. That summer, he was moving again to the New York Islanders in the trade that brought defenseman Nikc Leddy to Detroit.

The Slovak forward began the season playing in his homeland for Slovan Bratislava on a two-month contract. With that pact expiring, earlier this week he was signing with Lokomotiv Yaroslavl of the KHL.