Red Wings sign top prospect Axel Sandin-Pellikka to entry-level contract

Detroit — Defenseman Axel Sandin-Pellikka, generally considered one of the Red Wings' best prospects, signed a three-year entry-level contract Monday.

Sandin-Pellikka, 19, was the Wings' first-round draft pick (No. 17 overall) last year and spent this season in his native Sweden with Skelleftea AIK where he had 18 points (10 goals, eight assists) in 39 games. The 10 goals were the most of any under-19 skater in Sweden's top professional league.

Sandin-Pellikka didn't slow down in the playoffs, registering seven points (two goals, five assists) in 14 games while helping Skelleftea AIK to the league championship.

Sandin-Pellikka (5-foot-11, 176 pounds) is considered a highly-skilled offensive defenseman and won the 2024 Börje Salming Trophy as the best Swedish-born defenseman in the SHL.

General manager Steve Yzerman, in his season-ending press conference, emphasized there's no need to rush Sandin-Pellikka to North America. The expectation is Sandin-Pellikka will stay in Sweden at least one more year.

"He just needs time like all younger (defensemen)," Yzerman said. "He moves the puck well, skates well, he's got good skills. He's a fun player to watch and just needs time like all young players. He needs to get a little stronger, get more mature and he's going to be a good player for us."

tkulfan@detroitnews.com

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