Red Wings Prospect Sets SHL Record

It was a familiar scenario for Detroit Red Wings prospect Axel Sandin Pellikka. Skelleftea to the power play, him delivering the finishing touch.

His third-period power-play goal would prove to be the winner as Skelleftea was edging SHL leaders Brynas 2-1 on Satuday. It was also a record-setting tally for the 19-year-old defenseman.

Axel Sandin Pellikka(1st round’23)
GOAL🚨! He now has the record for:
•Most Goals for a U20 Defenseman in a season
• All time goal leader for a U20 Defenseman in a junior career#LGRW #skeaik pic.twitter.com/2h3SFpe5Bv

— Red Wings Prospects (@LGRWProspects) March 8, 2025

Netting his 12th goal of the season, Sandin Pellikka has now scored more goals in a season than any teenage defenseman in the history of the SHL.

“It’s awesome,” Sandin Pellikka told Swedish website Aftonbladet. “We’ve had a few open goals that we’ve missed. Then I pushed a little ice there, it sat nicely. The fact that it became the game-winning puck was also fun.”

Sandin Pellikka, selected 17th overall by Detroit in the 2023 NHL entry draft, has scored seven of his 12 goals on the power play. His latest goal was also ASP’s fifth game winner of the 2024-25 campaign.

He’s also the all-time leader for career goals by an under-20 SHL defender with 24. The previous mark for goals by a teenage defenseman in a season was set 46 years ago by former New York Islanders defenseman Tomas Jonsson. He tallied 11 times for Modo AIK in 1978-79.

Praise From Brother Of Former Red Wings Defenseman

Oddly enough, the analyst on the game for Sweden’s TV4 was former NHL defenseman Staffan Kronwall. He’s the brother of long-time Red Wings defenseman Niklas Kronwall. Today, Niklas Kronwall works in player development for Detroit and has worked closely with Sandin Pellikka.

Staffan Kronwall was suitably impressed with the work of the top Red Wings prospect.

“You almost forget that he is a junior,” Staffan Kronwall said. “Sometimes they say that defensemen dance on frozen water – and few do it as well as Axel Sandin Pellikka.”

With that goal @DetroitRedWings draftee Axel Sandin-Pellikka breaks the record for most goals by a junior aged defender in SHL history!

Absolutely massive feat for the unique #LGRW prospect. pic.twitter.com/SOsHqkUUj6

— Lars Thorsell (@LarsThorsell) March 8, 2025

Skelleftea has one more regular-season game left against Modo. Then the SHL playoffs get underway. Skelleftea is the defending SHL champion but are currently in fifth place with a 24-21-3-3 record.

“We feel we have a strong team,” Sandin Pellikka said. “No team scares us. We are aiming for the top six and then in the playoffs we will go for gold.

“That is the goal and it always has been. We have a good feeling.”