Swedish Defensemen Eye NHL Roster Spots
The Detroit Red Wings have long been a gateway for Swedish talent, a tradition that dates back to the early 1990s when players like Tomas Holmström and later Henrik Zetterberg made their mark in the NHL.
This season, two young Swedish defensemen, Axel Sandin-Pellikka and Anton Johansson, are slated to suit up for the Grand Rapids Griffins, the AHL affiliate of the Red Wings, as they look to translate their European performances into North American ice time.
Sandin-Pellikka, a right‑handed shot, impressed in the NHL last season with 21 points in 68 games, showcasing an offensive skill set that includes a powerful point shot and strong puck‑handling. Johansson, also a right‑handed defender, contributed 17 points in 42 SHL games last year, earning a reputation for a shutdown game and positional discipline.
Both players share the same shooting side, which complicates the prospect of pairing them in the same lineup unless one learns to shoot with the opposite hand, a transition that coaches rarely attempt at the professional level.
The Red Wings enter the upcoming season with a thin left side on defense, a situation that becomes more pronounced as veterans such as Justin Faulk, Albert Johansson and Jacob Bernard Docker are set to become free agents after next season, opening a potential pathway for the Swedish prospects to earn a spot on the main roster.
If the Griffins’ defensive corps proves effective, the organization could see Sandin-Pellikka and Johansson not only fill the left‑side gap but also contribute to the Red Wings’ power play and penalty kill, making a case for early call‑ups and a longer‑term presence in Detroit.