While the Red Wings’ 2024-25 season has gotten off to a disappointing start, the team’s farm system continues to progress across different leagues all over the globe. So, as the end of November approaches, it felt like a good time to check in on how some of Detroit ’s most notable prospects have played so far and what it can tell us about their longer-term projections and timelines. Advertisement Axel Sandin-Pellikka, RHD, Skellefteå (SHL) Since the moment the Red Wings drafted Sandin-Pellikka, the hope has been that he could grow into their top offensive blueliner of the future.
After a season and a half, that possibility looks like more than just hope as Sandin-Pellikka scores his way into uncharted territory for a junior-aged defenseman in the SHL. Through 22 games, he’s up to seven goals and 19 points, a production rate (0.86 per game) that has him on pace to shatter the SHL’s all-time U20 defense scoring record.
The current mark is 31 points in 45 games, held by Dallas’ Nils Lundkvist in 2019-20 and narrowly trailed by the Red Wings’ own Moritz Seider , who had 28 in 41 a year later. It’s an extremely impressive production for the 19-year-old. “He’s so smart,” Red Wings assistant director of player development Dan Cleary said.
“He’s positionally smart, he’s got a real feel for time and space. Very deceptive, he can manipulate players and situations.” Lundkvist does serve as a bit of a cautionary tale, though, that SHL production does not a.
