Detroit Red Wings · Defense · Shoots R

Axel Sandin-Pellikka

Age 21 · 6'0" · 189 lb · Born in Gallivare, SWE

Cap hit

$1.45M

1.4% of $104M cap

Term

2 yrs

Through 2027-28, then RFA

Clause

None

Surplus value

+$3.632M

vs. $5.082M market estimate

Contract details from our records; public announcement not yet matched

2025-26 regular season

Goals

10.3% shooting

Assists

7 primary

Points

0.31 per game

TOI/GP

16:13

PP 1:44 · PK 0:17

xGF%

45.2

5v5

Game Score

+0.01

per game, goals above average

Faceoff %

—

Plus/minus

-20

Blocks 54 · Hits 17

Game log

Last 5 games · NHL API

Game	G	A	SOG	HIT	BLK	TOI	PP	PK	FO	OZS%	GV	+/-	GS
Apr 15 @ FLA · L 8-1	0	0	0	1	1	15:06	2:33	0:00	—	0	1	0	-0.27
Apr 13 @ TBL · OTL 4-3	0	0	0	0	1	17:52	2:29	0:11	—	67	2	+1	-0.09
Apr 7 vs CBJ · OTL 4-3	0	0	3	0	0	9:34	0:00	0:00	—	100	1	-1	-0.15
Apr 5 vs MIN · L 5-4	1	1	2	0	1	15:04	0:26	0:00	—	50	1	+1	+1.17
Apr 4 @ NYR · L 4-1	0	0	1	0	0	16:51	2:18	0:00	—	0	1	0	-0.18

GS = our Game Score, goals above average. FO = faceoffs won-lost. OZS% = share of his 5v5 offensive and defensive zone faceoff starts that were in the offensive zone. GV/TK = giveaways/takeaways.

Advanced metrics

5v5 unless noted · 2025-26 · 925 min · percentile vs. NHL defensemen

xGF%45.2%

19th percentile

Relative xGF%-4.4

16th percentile

HDCF%41.9%

16th percentile

CF%50.2%

60th percentile

Relative CF%+1.1

70th percentile

FF%49.6%

55th percentile

GF%40.7%

14th percentile

CF/6059.6

72nd percentile

CA/6059.1

40th percentile

ixG/600.23

60th percentile

Goals above expected+3.4

91st percentile

IPP42.4%

77th percentile

PDO96.4

9th percentile

OZS%50.6%

67th percentile

xGF% is his team's share of 5v5 expected goals while he was on the ice, from our own expected goals model; HDCF% counts only high-danger chances (xG of 0.15 or more). IPP is the share of his team's 5v5 goals while he was on the ice that he scored or assisted on. Relative stats compare him with his team when he was off the ice. Goals above expected and ixG/60 use his own shots at all strengths. PDO and OZS% describe luck and deployment, so their bars are grey.

Play styleOffensive rush specialist

Trait percentiles vs. NHL defensemen · 2025-26

Sandin-Pellikka is a young defenseman who generates offense through elite rush chances and decent playmaking, but struggles significantly in physical play and defensive positioning. His game is built on transition speed and shot volume from distance rather than shutdown responsibilities.

Rush attackerPerimeter shooterTransition-first

Shooting volume: 71
Playmaking: 61
Zone entries(est.): 77
Forechecking: 7
Physicality: 4
Defensive impact: 13
Puck management: 20
Speed: 43

Where he shoots from

Slot 2% · Mid-range 22% · Perimeter 75%(122 unblocked shots)

Strengths

Elite at generating rush chances in transition, ranking 77th percentile among defensemen
Solid shot volume from distance with 71st percentile shooting attempts
Playmaking touch in the top 61st percentile to spark offense

Watch-outs

Weak in physicality at just 4th percentile, avoiding contact regularly
Minimal forechecking impact at 7th percentile limits defensive support
Below-average puck management (20th percentile) can hurt possession flow

Similar style: Henri Jokiharju, Zayne Parekh (CGY)

Built from play-by-play, shift data, and NHL EDGE tracking. Zone entries is an estimate (rush chances while he is on the ice) until tracking data is added.

Where his Game Score comes from

2025-26 · 68 GP · goals above average

Season total +0.7 goals, or +0.01 per game.

Even strength offense: -0.6
Even strength defense: -0.9
Power play: -0.2
Finishing: +3.4
Playmaking: -0.1
Penalties: -0.9

Game Score adds up a player's impact in goals compared with an average player given the same ice time: his share of expected goals for and against at even strength, on the power play, and on the penalty kill, plus finishing (goals minus expected goals), primary assists, penalties drawn and taken, and faceoffs. Goalies are measured by goals saved above expected.

By season

Regular season

Season	Team	GP	G	A	P	+/-	SOG	TOI/GP	FO%	GS/GP
2025-26	DET	68	7	14	21	-20	68	16:13	—	+0.01

Sentiment & chatter

Fans

—

Beat writers

—

Media

—

Fan, beat writer, and media scores, the 14-day trade chatter chart, and the latest mentions appear once sentiment scoring is switched on. Mentions are already being collected.

Age curve

NHL defensemen · production index

202937

At 21, defensemen typically produce 97% of their peak (age 24). His contract runs through age 22, when the typical level is 98%.

From 24 seasons of NHL results, adjusted for league scoring and save percentage in each era. Shaded bars are the seasons left on his contract.

Skating · NHL EDGE

2025-26, as of Oct 2

Top speed: 21.5 mph; 43rd pct
20+ mph bursts: 28
Hardest shot: 98.0 mph; 89th pct
Distance: 162.2 mi
OZ time: 43.3%; 73rd pct
DZ time: 39.5%