DETROIT – Young players who succeed in the NHL learn to navigate through highs and lows, something Detroit Red Wings rookie Axel Sandin-Pellikka experienced on Thursday.

He scored his second goal of the season late in the second period to give the Red Wings a lead they didn’t relinquish in a 6-3 victory over Anaheim. Then he sat for the final 16 minutes of the game when his team was protecting the lead.

“I had some blunder, so just move on from that and focus on the next game,” Sandin-Pellikka said.

It was a learning moment for player and teaching opportunity for coaches.

“The player can’t be confused, wondering, why didn’t I (play),” coach Todd McLellan said. “So, first thing we did (Friday), we watched some video and discussed things and then brought him in, talked to him about his game and his approach to the game and told him how the NHL kind of works.

“The first 10 games, everybody’s finding their way. The next 10, the superstars really get playing well. It gets heavier, it gets harder, and then it gets tougher as the season goes on. If you’re lucky enough to get to the playoffs, that’s a whole different animal. He has to be able to adjust with that as the year goes on. We had that discussion, and then (assistant coach Trent Yawney) followed it up and made sure that his confidence was where it should be because he’s done some really good things. So that’s how a day would go for not just Axe, but for many players.”

The Red Wings drafted Sandin-Pellikka 17th overall in 2023 due to his offensive skills. At 6-foot and 186 pounds, he’s learning to use his legs, his head and his stick to become a better defender.

“Axe isn’t the biggest guy, but he’s not tiny,” McLellan said. “Dan Boyle was a prime example — competitive, knew how to use what God gave him to the best of his ability. He knew what battle he could win and lose physically, and he was involved in all of them. And if he could win a physical battle, he’d win it. If his judgment was ‘I’m probably on the short end of this stick,’ then his mind and his legs took over and positioned him well, and he outsmarted people.

“Sometimes when you’re not the biggest or strongest, you have to have legs and your head to get you out of trouble. Axe is still learning that. He’s played against men before in Europe on bigger ice. This happens a little faster here. It’s a little bigger, a little stronger. He’s 20 and he’s going to keep on learning throughout his career, but it’s going to be a good, long one.”

Sandin-Pellikka said using his brain is key.

“I’m not going shove 6-foot-5 guys into the boards,” he said. “For me to handle one of those guys, I just got to be smart, position myself right and I can stop plays in that way instead.”

Sandin-Pellikka has played on the second defense pairing all season, the past several games with Ben Chiarot.

“For a 20-year-old kid, the minutes he’s playing against good players, really impressive,” Chiarot said. “His play with the puck, very calm, makes the right play more times than not. Using his feet, his stick is how he’s going to defend for his whole career. The quicker he gets, the better he’ll be defensively.

“I played with a defenseman not too dissimilar to Axe in Josh Morrissey in Winnipeg. Smaller guy but learned how to use his stick really well defensively and now he’s one of the best defensemen in the league.”

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