The Detroit Red Wings are hoping for big things from defenseman Axel Sandin-Pellikka, whom GM Steve Yzerman named the club's Round 1 draft selection in 2023.
Sandin-Pellikka has already gotten some valuable experience of playing professional hockey in North America, as he joined Detroit's American Hockey League affiliate Grand Rapids Griffins for the tail-end of their regular season schedule and three postseason games.
While he's likely to begin the 2025-26 NHL season with the Griffins, he's still going to be with the Red Wings at Training Camp in Traverse City, Mich. next month beginning Sept. 18.
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To say that Sandin-Pellikka is looking forward to it would be an understatement.
"I’m f****** excited for the chance to experience the dream I’ve had since I was fourteen years old," he explained to Gunnar Nordstrom of Swedish website Expressen.
That about says it all, doesn't it?
The offensive-minded Swedish defenseman, who has drawn comparisons to Colorado Avalanche defenseman and former Conn Smythe Trophy-winner Cale Makar, will have every opportunity to make the club out of Training Camp in the words of Yzerman.
“I guess we'll wait and see," Yzerman explained in early July following Red Wings Development Camp. "I’m not going to rule out any player coming in and being so good in camp that we’re going to keep him and see how he does in the NHL. The preseason games are tricky in that like a lot of the veterans are playing (the games) because they know they need to play them, but it’s not the intensity and the pace of a regular-season game."
"And sometimes depending on who’s in the lineup, you’re not necessarily playing against NHL players. So, it can be misleading, both good and bad. I can answer that question better at the end of training camp.”
Sandin-Pellikka tallied 12 goals with 17 assists in Skellefteå AIK of the Swedish Hockey League prior to traveling to North America to join the Griffins.
If he can impress the Red Wings’ brass during Training Camp and preseason play, he could follow in the footsteps of Moritz Seider and Lucas Raymond, both of whom earned roster spots after their first camp with the club in 2021.
Training Camp begins on Sept. 18, followed by the annual Red & White Game on Sept. 22. The Red Wings then open their pre-season schedule against the Chicago Blackhawks at Little Caesars Arena on Sept. 23.
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