Detroit Red Wings prospect Axel Sandin-Pellikka wins 2025 Elite Prospects Award as Sweden's best junior player

The 2024–25 season was, to say the least, a memorable one for Axel Sandin-Pellikka. 

He capped it off by being named the Elite Prospects Award winner for 2025, recognizing him as the top junior player in Sweden.

Presented annually since 2013 by Hockeysverige.se in collaboration with Elite Prospects, the award honours the best-performing junior player in the Swedish Hockey League (SHL). This year, Sandin-Pellikka made history as the first recipient to receive the highest possible score from every member of the selection committee.

“It’s awesome,” Sandin-Pellikka told Hockeysverige.se. “It’s not something I’ve gone around thinking about, but it’s nice to get a solid confirmation of what I’ve accomplished.”

Over the course of the season, the 20-year-old defenceman captained Sweden at the World Juniors, made his debut with Tre Kronor, and finished the year in North America. He was a cornerstone for Skellefteå AIK, helping guide the team to the SHL semifinals.

Sandin-Pellikka totalled 29 points (12 goals, 17 assists) in 46 SHL regular season games, and added 8 points (1 goal, 7 assists) in 11 playoff contests. His offensive production set multiple records:

• Most goals by a junior defenceman in a single SHL season (12)
• Most career goals by a junior defenceman in the SHL (24)
• Most career SHL playoff points by a junior defenceman (15)

“It’s been a blast to have a bigger role here at home in Skellefteå,” he said. “That was one of my goals heading into the season. Then it’s been a lot of back and forth — World Juniors, SHL, national team, and then straight to the AHL after the playoffs. It’s been a bit hectic, but I’ve gotten used to that since I joined the senior team here in 2022.

Overall, it’s been a really fun and educational season. Too bad we couldn’t go all the way with Skellefteå again. At the same time, it was valuable for me to get a jump start over in the U.S. this spring, so things won’t be such a shock when I come over in September.”

After Skellefteå's playoff exit, Sandin-Pellikka joined the Grand Rapids Griffins in the AHL, appearing in two regular season games and three playoff matches.

“It’s a completely different league with a different style of play. There’s a lot more dump-and-chase and glass-and-out plays. It’s a whole different game from here. You need to adjust to how fast it is over there. I think it was good for me to get a feel for it.”

Reflecting on his development, Sandin-Pellikka pointed to growth in maturity and defensive responsibility.

“I’ve played a bit more maturely. I’ve also gotten stronger and improved my defensive play. I cleaned up my plus/minus numbers a bit this year...”

Now, he's back in Skellefteå, gearing up for a summer of intense off-season training alongside other NHLers from the area. The program is led by Stefan Thomson, a coach for Skellefteå AIK and Sweden’s national women’s cross-country ski team.

“I’m going to work all summer, and I have a clear picture of what I want to improve — both on and off the ice. My main focus is to have the best summer possible, and then do everything I can to earn a spot in training camp.

Nothing is guaranteed, but of course, I want to make the NHL.”

Still, the departure comes with mixed emotions.

“Everyone in and around the club is just amazing. I’ll miss the fans, I’ll miss speaking Swedish in the locker room... There’s a lot.”

Elite Prospects Award Previous Winners:

2013: William Karlsson (HV71)
2014: Alexander Wennberg (Frölunda)
2015: Axel Holmström (Skellefteå)
2016: Gustav Forsling (Linköping)
2017: JJoel Eriksson Ek (Färjestad)
2018: Elias Pettersson (Växjö)
2019: Emil Bemström (Djurgården)
2020: Nils Lundkvist (Luleå)
2021: Moritz Seider (Rögle)
2022: Simon Edvinsson (Frölunda)
2023: Leo Carlsson (Örebro)
2024: Jonathan Lekkerimäki(Örebro)

Also received votes:

David Edstrom, Frölunda
Marcus Gidlöf, Leksand
Felix Nilsson, Rögle
Oscar Fisker Mølgaard, HV71
Melvin Fernström, Örebro
Theo Lindstein, Brynäs
Isac Hedqvist, Luleå
Jamiro Reber, HV71

Selection committee:

Måns Karlsson, Jimmy Hamrin, Ronnie Rönnkvist, Uffe Bodin, Rasmus Kågström, Robin Olausson, Martin Jansson, Simon Eld, Konrad Grönlund, Viktor Jansson, Lukas Stenström (all from hockeysverige.se), Johan Nilsson and Peter Sibner (Eliteprospects.com), Magnus Hävelid (Head Coach, Junior National Team), Johan Rosén (Head Coach, U17 National Team).