Top defence prospect for 2023 NHL Entry Draft inks three-year extension in Sweden

On Saturday, Swedish Hockey League team Skelleftea AIK announced that they've agreed to terms on a three-year contract extension with projected top-ten pick in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft, Axel Sandin-Pellikka.

The quote in this story is translated from Swedish

Sandin-Pellikka, 17, starred at the 2023 IIHF World Junior Championship for Sweden, helping them to a fourth place finish after losing in the bronze medal game to the United States. He led Sweden in average ice-time throughout the tournament and played in a top-pairing role, with time on the first powerplay unit.

His performance at the World Juniors and even the few weeks leading up to the tournament with Skelleftea AIK and their U20 team has rocketed the Gallivare native to third among international skaters ranked by NHL Central Scouting. He sits just above Dalibor Dvorsky and Eduard Sale and just below Leo Carlsson and Matvei Michkov.

In 15 games for Skelleftea AIK this season, Sandin-Pellikka has five points (two goals, three assists), zero penalty minutes and is a plus-three. Meanwhile, with their U20 team, he's put up 26 points in 20 games.

With most European contracts, there is an NHL out clause, meaning if an NHL team wants to sign you, you can terminate your contract with your current team and face no penalty. In Sandin-Pellikka's case, once he gets drafted, the NHL team can sign him to an entry-level deal and loan him back to the Swedish Hockey League, if they wish.

Source: Skelleftea AIK

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