Detroit Red Wings
Another Honor For Red Wings Top Prospect
Sandin Pellikka named European Young Player of Year
For the second time this week, Detroit Red Wings defense prospect Axel Sandin Pellikka is being recognized for his excellence on the ice.
The player Detroit chose 17th overall in the 2023 NHL entry draft has been named the Young Player of the Year by the Alliance of European Hockey Clubs (EHC).
The winner of the Fjälräven Young Player of the Year is Axel Sandin-Pellikka @skelleftea_aik @DetroitRedWings #lgrw #EHCawards2025 pic.twitter.com/oKiwml3eY5
— EuropeanHockeyClubs (@EHCAlliance) June 11, 2025
The 20-year-old defenseman was captain of the Swedish team at the IIHF World Junior Championship, where he would finish fourth in scoring and was named the tournament’s best defenseman. It was the second successive year that Sandin Pellikka was winning this honor. He joined a former Red Wings star, Viacheslav Fetisov, as the only players to be two-time top defenseman at a world junior tourney.
Sandin Pellikka was also ninth in scoring by a defensemen scoring in the SHL. During the season, he set SHL records for the most goals in a season (12) and career (24) by a junior-aged defender. As well, Sandin Pellikka 15 playoff points were also a league mark.
“It’s not something I’ve thought about much during the season, but it’s definitely awesome,” Sandin Pellikka admitted to Swedish website Hockey Sverige. “It’s hard to understand when you’re in the middle of it. At the same time, you just have to take it as a pat on the back and try to be even better tomorrow.”
Red Wings Prospects Dominate Award
Earlier this week, ASP was also recognized as the 2025 winner of the EliteProspects Award, annually given to the top junior player in the SHL. Sandin Pellikka garnered all 15 first-place votes on the ballot.
Axel Sandin-Pellikka on his favorite Swedish-born player, Peter Forsberg or Nicklas Lidstrom….. pic.twitter.com/hflqZkhDKE
— Bob Kaser (@bkaser1) April 16, 2025
Sandin Pellikka was also a finalist for the EHC Young Player of the Year Award last year. It’s an honor that’s been dominated by Red Wings prospects in recent years. Grand Rapids Griffins defenseman William Wallinder won in in 2023, while Red Wings forward Elmer Soderblom was the winner in 2022. Detroit defenseman Moritz Seider captured the award in 2021.
