Axel Sandin Pelikka

After being a dominant Swedish defender in juniors, he has progressed to the Swedish pro hockey league, seeing various amounts of playing time (4 to 16 minutes per game) derived by the way the games progress. Looks like the Swedish defensemen with the most upside in our view, playing smart and poised in the attack, flawless in his carries, and decisions. Not a big kid, but is one with recovery speed and an intense playing style that bodes well in his development, now that the scouting world are on to his upside. The question that always remains on the table with the underside junior "offenders" is will they grow and will they add more to their defensive game besides using the skill and skate to defend?  As the game continues to get faster and more skilled, teams will be relentless at taking offensemne that think might "mini-Makars." He is a dynamic skater who loves the puck on his stick and has established himself as an offensive catalyst. Displays a rocket wrister. Plays on the top of the umbrella on the power play. He makes smart outlet passes. No issues in his game activate and try to put it in. Probably takes far too many risks with his puck handling, but we know what his game is. As well as he skates, he still can have some issues with defending speed rushes, as he loses gap contain frequently, but also can be brilliant with how he plays attackers and how he plays defenders when he is controlling the attack. He looked like the best Swedish defender in all games. Has little physicality against attackers cutting into the middle and slot area. But he is young will gain strength and girth to go along with the high end smarts he has and uses on the entire ice. He is only average sized, but that wasn't much of a disadvantage in the Swedish pro.

                                                                           --Bill Płaczek--