(Editor’s Note: This is another installment of a player-by-player analysis of the Detroit Red Wings’ roster for the 2025-26 season. The emphasis is on how each player performed and their future in the organization. Today, we discuss rookie Detroit defenseman Axel Sandin-Pellikka)

Age: Turned 21 on March 11

Contract Status: Two years remaining on an entry level contract with AAV at $940,833.

Last season’s contributions: Second among Red Wings defensemen with seven goals. He finished with 21 points.

Grade: B-

Past

Sandin-Pellikka’s grade is a melding of his offensive success and his defensive deficiencies. The Red Wings were pleased with his offensive confidence, his vision for making offensive plays and his shot. He guides it through shot blockers and it finds the net.

ASP’s issues were on the defensive side of the puck. He competes hard enough, but he was frequently overmatched. His minus-20 plus-minus was the worst among Detroit defensemen. He was probably a “high B” performer offensively in his rookie NHL campaign but was a “low C” defensively.

Of course, none of this is surprising for a young player who spent his youth as an offensive star.

The tricky part of Sandin-Pellikka’s development is to create defensive instincts in him without robbing him of offensive prowess. In his limited time at Grand Rapids at the end of year, he had two goals and three points in six regular-season games and a goal and three assists for four points in eight playoff games.

Undoubtedly, the Red Wings sent him into the offseason with instructions to add muscle to his frame.

Present

What’s the measuring stick for ASP defensively? At one point this season, coach Todd McLellan mentioned former NHLer Dan Boyle as a comparison.

“Ax isn’t the biggest guy, but he’s not tiny,” McLellan said. “He’s not the biggest defender. Boyle is a real prime example for me. I spent all those years in San Jose. Competitive. Knew how to use what God gave him to the best of his ability. He knew what battle he could win or lose physically, and he was involved in all of them. And if he could win a physical battle, he would go win it. If his analysis or his judgment was ‘I’m probably on short end of this stick.’ Then his mind and his legs took over and positioned him well. He outsmarted people. Sometimes when you’re not the biggest or strongest, you have to have your legs and head get you out of trouble. And Axe is still learning that.”

Future

As much as Red Wings management appreciates Sandin Pellikka’s offensive potential, he will not come to training camp with a guaranteed place on the roster.

Circumstances dictate that the young Swede will have to battle to make the Red Wings.

The Red Wings could end up with 10 defensemen competing for seven or eight spots on the roster. Moritz Seider, Simon Edvinsson, Ben Chiarot and Justin Faulk are the incumbent top four. Albert Johansson should be a lock at No. 5. The re-signing of Jacob Bernard-Docker says he’s in the plans. That leaves Sandin-Pellikka, William Wallinder (32nd, 2020), Anton Johansson (105th, 2022) and maybe 6-foot-5 Antti Tuomisto (35th, 2019) competing for the last one or two spots.

It’s most likely two spots because coaches generally prefer having eight defensemen. Influencing what happens is the fact that Wallinder is no longer waiver exempt. He would have to clear waivers to be sent to Grand Rapids again. He’s 6-foot-4, skates well and is a quality defender. Wallinder probably wouldn’t clear waivers.

Tuomisto is also no longer waiver exempt, but his bigger issue is that he has Group 6 UFA status because he had three years under an NHL contract without playing 80 NHL games. He may choose to sign with another NHL team.

Meanwhile, Sandin-Pellikka (and Anton Johansson) are waiver-exempt. They can be sent to Grand Rapids without waivers. That’s why Sandin-Pellikka needs to have a good summer of working out, growing a bit bigger and stronger to have his best chance of making the team.

Contract status: Won’t be a RFA until July 1, 2028