Axel Sandin Pellikka (ASP) was lauded as the best offensive defenceman in the 2023 NHL draft. Despite this, there were questions about his size (5-foot-11 and 181 pounds), his defensive game, and his ability to be more than a bottom-pairing guy. So far this season, it seems like he is pushing back on those question marks. Is this a future top-pairing defender? What is the true upside? We’ll get to all of that and more!

Axel Sandin-Pellikka (#5 yellow) knows exactly what he wants to do with the puck before he ever gets it. The wind up for a shot draws in the penalty killers but he lays it off, one-touch to the wide open winger. Dec.10, 2022 #LGRW📷 pic.twitter.com/3Kd5eEj9m1

— Fantasy Hockey Doctor - Victor Nuño (@VictorNuno12) December 9, 2023

The EP Rinkside team rated ASP as the 15th-best player available in the 2023 draft. He went roughly in that range as the Detroit Red Wings stepped up to take him 17th overall. The team rated ASP’s skating and puckhandling as his best attributes. He’s a legitimate first-unit power-play quarterback in a draft that didn’t have many (any others?). He can walk the offensive blue l