Axel Sandin Pellikka won an SHL Championship with Skellefteå AIK, adding on to a stellar U19 season that saw the Red Wings defense prospect with Defenseman of the Year in the SHL

The Red Wings can add championship pedigree to the scouting report of prospect Axel Sandin Pellikka.

The Swedish defenseman drafted 17th overall in the 2023 NHL Draft won the SHL Championship with Skellefteå AIK on Monday. He missed the first two games of his team's series against Rogle, but he came back and played just over 20 minutes each night in the final three games to close out the series in five. Sandin Pellikka also won the Borje Salming Trophy earlier this season, awarded to the SHL's best defenseman.

Sandin Pellikka had a stellar draft-plus-one season, and championship hardware only adds to that. He nearly broke a 21-point U-19 season scoring record set by Victor Hedman back in 2008-09, falling just short with 18 points. Sandin Pellikka scored seven points in 14 playoff games, including an assist on the overtime winner of game four in the championship series. He logged 25:34 in that game.

As much as Sandin Pellikka succeeded this season, Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman is planning for him to spend another year in Sweden.

"I expect him to stay," Yzerman said April 19. "We haven't actually had a conversation with him, but I expect him to remain in Sweden for another season, but we literally haven't sat down and had a phone call with him and (said), 'Hey Axel, what would you like to do?' But my impression, my understanding right now is that he'll remain there for another year, and if we wants to do that, we're more than happy with it."

Sandin Pellikka, with a year of physical and mental maturation under his belt, could be an even greater force for Skellefteå next season even if he isn't ready for the jump to an NHL or AHL season. It bodes well for his development that he can play such a large role on a playoff-winning team, even if it doesn't mean he's quite prepared for the next step in his NHL journey.

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