The Detroit Red Wings have a long history of bringing Swedish players to the NHL who have long and storied careers, and in the coming season, will hope to continue that tradition with a pair of young defenseman playing for their AHL affiliate.

Barring another surprise, Axel Sandin-Pellikka, who spent much of last season on Detroit’s main roster will likely play his sophomore season in America for the Griffins. Joining him for his first full season of North American hockey will be one of Detroit’s other top prospect defenseman, fellow Swede Anton Johansson.

The most intriguing thing about the two playing in Grand Rapids together, though, is that the two have opportunity to help drive the Griffins offense as well as their defense.

Complementary

There are certainly a couple of things about the two Swedish defenseman that helps to set them apart, starting with the broad strokes of the fact that Johansson, 6’4″ towers above Sandin-Pellikka, who is generously listed at 6’0″ by the NHL. The two also have disparate playstyles, with Sandin-Pellikka known more for his ability with the puck on his stick than Johansson is.

That sort of offensive creativity and ability to keep the puck away from opponents once he got possession of it was what got the then 20 year old rookie on the Red Wings opening night roster over a more experienced veteran in Erik Gustafsson. In 68 games with Detroit’s main club, Sandin-Pellikka had 21 points while adjusting to the smaller North American ice for the first time before seemingly diminishing returns saw him assigned to Grand Rapids.

However, that doesn’t mean Johansson is a deer in the headlights when he gets the puck. In his final season for Leksands IF in the SHL, Johansson had 17 points in 42 games and tacked another six points on in eight AHL regular season games after his season in Europe finished. He had another goal during the Griffins eight game playoff run and lead the team with 19 shots through the first six games.

Johansson is definitely more known for the presence he brings on the defensive end, though. He’s known for big hits, and getting on opponents nerves, as another Red Wings prospect can well attest to. The big bodied blueliner had nearly 100 penalty minutes in the last two years in the SHL.

Too much of a good thing?

The two Swedes are right hand shots, making it unlikely we will see them on ice together in any capacity, barring one of the two learning how to play with their off-hand. The Red Wings are thin down the left side as well, which presents another layer of difficulty when it comes to cracking the roster this year.

The Red Wings re-signed two defenseman last year, and Mo Seider and Simon Edvinsson certainly aren’t in any danger of losing their spots on the top pairing. However, Justin Faulk, Albert Johansson (no relation) and Jacob Bernard Docker all become free agents after next season.

That’s plenty of opportunity, and maybe a little time with a new Red Wings regime to win a spot on the main roster for the coming years.