Categories
Red Wings Youngster Not Guaranteed A Spot
- 2026 Stanley Cup Final
- NFL training camp updates
- LeBron's 76ers debut set
- Trump defends Infantino
- Fantasy Football Draft Kit
Red Wings Youngster Not Guaranteed A Spot
Kevin AllenFri, August 7, 2026 at 4:54 PM UTC·4 min readAdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThe post Red Wings Youngster Not Guaranteed A Spot appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.
Mar 2, 2026; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Nashville Predators left wing Zachary L'Heureux (68) and Detroit Red Wings defenseman Axel Sandin-Pellikka (44) battle for the puck during the second period at Bridgestone Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steve Roberts-Imagn Images
Editor's Note: This is the second installment of a Detroit Hockey Now series assessing the Detroit Red Wings' prospects' path to the NHL. The emphasis will be on what their chances are of playing regularly in the NHL and when we can expect to see them wearing the Winged Wheel.
Detroit Hockey Now Ranking: No. 2 Red Wings prosect
When the Detroit Red Wings drafted Axel Sandin-Pellikka three years ago, TSN draft analyst Craig Button compared him to a young Sergei Zubov. He viewed Sandin-Pellikka as right-shot defenseman who might be able to produce the 50-plus points per season that Zubov did often during his NHL career.
In Sandin-Pellikka's rookie season, he showed the confident puck-handling that will allow him to be a power play defenseman at the NHL level. The next step for him is to show the defensive improvement that will buy him the playing time necessary to create that offense.
Because the Red Wings sent Sandin-Pellikka to Grand Rapids after he played 63 games in the NHL, it seems like there was disappointment mixed into his rookie season. But that isn't an accurate assessment. The Red Wings anticipated the growing pains they had with Sandin-Pellikka.
The reason for the demotion was the arrival of Justin Faulk in a trade. He moved into the top four and the Red Wings thought Sandin-Pellikka would be served to playing more minutes in Grand Rapids.
"I don't think Axe is short on confidence," Todd McLellan said after he was sent down. "He believes in himself and I don't think that wavered. His minutes were diminishing here. He needed to play more. His time spent (in Grand Rapids), big situations. That part helped his game. I don't think he's driving home in his car with his confidence wavering. He's a pretty strong individual when it comes to that."
He's a poised puck-handler, unflappable when the puck is on his stick, comfortable with the puck in traffic. Unbothered by pressure.
Knows how to guide his shots to the net. Has a knack of avoiding shot blockers. It's his timing and instincts. His seven goals, on 68 shots, in 68 games, while averaging of 16 minutes per game, is noteworthy. That's a shooting percentage of 10.3%. Seider had seven goals in his rookie season and five in his second season. He was playing 23 minutes per game. In his first two seasons, Seider had at least 140 shots in both seasons.
The young Swede has a high hockey IQ. He anticipates well, appreciates how each play is developing.
His minus-21 plus-minus was an accurate reflection of how he played defensively in his first NHL campaign. He competed but often seemed overmatched. Late in games, Coach Todd McLellan didn't always trust him, if they were trying to hold a lead. He needs to add some strength. Sandin-Pellikka said the Red Wings want him to bring more intensity.
On paper, Sandin-Pellikka is coming to training camp to compete for one of eight jobs on the blue line. The offensively challenged Red Wings could use ASP's goals and assists, especially if his defensive play is improved. But it's not quite that simple. First, this is the first year of an 84-game regular season and training camp will only last a few days. The Red Wings only play four preseason games. Sandin-Pellikka won't have much time to show what he can do.
Second, the Red Wings have too many defensemen and Sandin-Pellikka is waiver exempt. That means he doesn't have to go through waivers to be sent to the minors. The Red Wings have eight other defensemen who do have to go through waivers, including prospect William Wallinder.
It will be easy to send Sandin-Pellikka to Grand Rapids under the idea that he could be one of the first call-ups if there are injuries. Frankly, it wouldn't make sense to keep Sandin-Pellikka if he's the eighth defenseman anyway. He would benefit more to play 23 or 24 minutes per game for Grand Rapids than being in and out of the lineup in Detroit
That's a safe position for the new director of hockey operations, although maybe the new guy doesn't want to play it safe. Maybe he wants to go with ASP and let him learn on the job.
NewsFinanceSportsMoreMail