Red Wings first-round draft pick Axel Sandin Pellikka signed his entrylevel contract on Monday, getting one step closer to his NHL future. He plans to play in Sweden for the 2024-25 season.

Axel Sandin Pellikka's big week just got even better.

One week after winning the SHL Championship with Skellefteå AIK on April, Red Wings prospect Axel Sandin Pellikka signed his three-year, entry-level contract with Detroit. The Swedish defenseman was a 2023 first-round pick, selected 17th overall, and won the SHL's Borje Salming award for the best Swedish-born defenseman in the league.

Signing his ELC is one step in a larger journey to the NHL, Sandin Pellikka acknowledged to Swedish newspaper Norran, but he plans to return to the SHL next season. His 10 goals led all U19 skaters in the pro league, and his 18 points were the most by a U19 defenseman in the league since Victor Hedman in 2008-09. These are major accomplishments, but they're also building blocks to stack on top of for Sandin Pellikka to better prepare himself for the NHL.

Sandin Pellikka's extra year in Sweden was no surprise. Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman expected him to spend another year overseas, something he acknowledged in his April 19 press conference.

"I had a chance to watch him at the World Juniors, and he played well. And he's been good," Yzerman said. "I watch a little bit of mostly highlights really in Skellefteå [his SHL club], and he's good. He just needs time, like all the younger d-men, he moves the puck well, he skates well, he's got good skills. He's a fun a player to watch, and he just needs time like all young players to get a little stronger, more mature, and I think he's gonna be a real good player for us. He's a little different in a lot of our D prospects. He's a different type of player, and he'll fit in nicely with our group of defensemen I feel in a couple years."

Sandin Pellikka signing his ELC might've been a bit of a surprise given his plan to stay over in Sweden, but he's young enough at 19 to be slide eligible. That means that if he doesn't play 10 NHL games next season, his first year of his entry-level contract moves to the next season. This could occur if Sandin Pellikka stays over in Sweden, though he's eligible to come over and play for Detroit if he chooses to.

Compared to other star Swedish defensemen of the past, Sandin Pellikka's time in the SHL is taking a bit longer. Hedman came over after his record-setting offensive year in 2009. Erik Karlsson, another Swedish phenom drafted the year before Hedman went second overall in 2009, spent his draft-plus-two year in the Swedish league. Part of Sandin Pellikka's situation might be the Red Wings' overall talent, including a blue line that doesn't need to rush his development process with already capable pros in the lineup. 

It might take another year for Sandin Pellikka to get ready for the NHL, but signing his ELC is nonetheless another step in his journey to the NHL. For a defender of his offensive ability, such patience could be well worth the wait.

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