The Red Wings recalled defenseman Axel Sandin-Pellikka from AHL Grand Rapids on an emergency basis Saturday, per a team announcement. He will be an option to step into the lineup for today’s matinee against the Rangers in place of Justin Faulk, who will need to miss at least one game with the lower-body injury that knocked him out of Thursday’s big win over the Flyers.
The Wings’ defense has been a bit of a pain point all season, with starting goalie John Gibson doing some legwork to cover up their flaws. Sandin-Pellikka, who appeared in 63 consecutive games to begin the season but was replaced in the lineup by Faulk’s acquisition from the Blues at the trade deadline, was a top-four piece through much of it.
The 21-year-old was the 17th overall pick in 2023 and still arguably has top-pairing upside, but the initial returns were underwhelming. He provided a 6-13–19 scoring line, but his possession impacts were subpar. He suited up primarily as the Wings’ #2 righty on a unit with Ben Chiarot. That pairing only controlled 46.5% of expected goals, per MoneyPuck. Chiarot and Faulk have gotten closer to the waterline with a 49.2 xGF%. Sandin-Pellikka also spent some time with countryman Simon Edvinsson, in which they were porous defensively, allowing 3.25 xGA/60 for a 34.2 xGF%.
It wasn’t too surprising, then, that general manager Steve Yzerman saw upgrading Detroit’s bottom-four on the blue line behind Moritz Seider‘s spectacular top-pair showing as a must at the deadline. Since then, a rash of injuries has contributed to the Wings going on a 5-7-1 skid and falling out of a playoff position. They can rectify that today with two points against the conference-worst Rangers. That, combined with a loss of any kind by the Senators against the Wild, will put them back into the second wild-card spot.
Sandin-Pellikka has looked like a natural in his brief run of play in Grand Rapids over the past few weeks. The 6’0″ Swede has a pair of goals and an assist in four games with a +1 rating. It’s not his minor-league debut; the rookie came over from his loan to Skellefteå AIK of the Swedish Hockey League late last season and had an assist in two games with Grand Rapids to close out the regular season.