Axel Sandin Pellikka Leads NHL Prospects To Watch In The SHL On FloHockey
Axel Sandin Pellikka Leads NHL Prospects To Watch In The SHL On FloHockey
The SHL will be streaming select games on FloHockey this season. Chris Peters breaks down SHL prospects to watch.
Sweden has become one of the most reliable producers of NHL talent outside of North America. With some of the biggest clubs housing elite development systems, Swedish hockey players get high-end training from a young age and often filter up to the pro clubs at younger and younger ages now.
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FloHockey will be bringing you upwards of 100 games from the Swedish Hockey League all season long with English commentary exclusively in the United States. To go along with streaming the AHL, ECHL, top junior and college hockey, FloHockey continues to be one of the best places to observe some of the very best prospects before they become stars in the NHL. We’re excited that the SHL is now part of that mix.
FloHockey’s first SHL broadcast of the 2024-25 season will be Thursday, Oct. 3, when iconic clubs Frölunda and MoDo square off at 1 p.m. ET.
The entire SHL broadcast schedule for October on FloHockey is now available, with more games to be added as the season progresses. Here are some of the key NHL prospects to keep a close eye on this season.
Top NHL Prospects To Watch In The SHL This Season
Axel Sandin-Pellikka, D, Skellefteå AIK (DET)
Though just 19, Sandin-Pellikka has already appeared in 66 games in the SHL over the previous two seasons. In his third year in the league, even more is expected after the incredible bar he set last season with 10 goals and 18 points in 39 pro games. His 10 goals were the second most ever by a U19 defenseman in the SHL.
Through his first five games of the 2024-25 season, the Red Wings 2023 first-round pick has already produced four points, including a pair of goals. He’s also more regularly playing top-pairing minutes and thriving in that situation.
A talented puck-mover, Sandin-Pellikka has poise beyond his years and just keeps getting better.
Otto Stenberg, C/W, Malmö (STL)
After spending much of the last four seasons in the Frölunda system, Stenberg signed his NHL contract with the St. Louis Blues and moved to Malmö on loan. It will be an opportunity to play a more prominent role and likely be a more productive player in the top division. The early results are proving that out.
Stenberg, who shined after being loaned out to Allsvenskan side BIK Karlskoga last season, already has three points in his first four SHL games this season with Malmö.
An aggressive, clever forward, Stenberg has a high motor and has shown the ability to score against his age peers, especially internationally. Stenberg had nine points in Sweden’s silver-medal effort at the World Juniors last winter, and should be a key player for that team come December.
David Edstrom, C, Frölunda (NSH)
Drafted by the Vegas Golden Knights in 2023, Edstrom has already been traded twice before he’s ever stepped foot in the NHL. It wasn’t really because of anything Edstrom did or didn’t do. Both trades were big ones, with him being part of the package Vegas sent to San Jose for Tomas Hertl and then he was part of what San Jose sent to Nashville for Yaroslav Askarov. It hasn’t impacted Edstrom much because he’s remained in Sweden since his draft.
A 6-foot-3 center with above-average hands for a big man, Edstrom has impressive upside. He appeared in 44 SHL games last season and contributed 19 points. He has one assist in five games so far.
Theo Lindstein, D, Brynäs (STL)
After helping Brynäs earn promotion to the SHL last season, Lindstein is back and playing a significant role for the club he has spent the last six seasons with. Selected 29th overall by the Blues in 2023, as part of a three-pick first round, Lindstein has been a steady two-way defender over his young career.
Lindstein had 15 points in 49 Allsvenskan games last season, but really shined at the 2023 World Junior Championship, posting eight points in seven games as Sweden took silver. He’ll have a chance to return to the tournament again this season.
Stian Solberg, D, Färjestad (ANA)
After playing pro in his native Norway, Solberg decided to make the jump to Sweden before he was taken in the first round last June by the Anaheim Ducks. This is his first season in Sweden’s top pro circuit and Solberg has made an impression already while playing top-four minutes for his new club.
Solberg’s rise as a prospect last season was rapid and he made a great last impression at the World Championship, leading to his being picked 23rd overall.
The 18-year-old Norwegian is a devastating body checker who has good mobility and understands how to defend at the pro level. He’s also got the 6-foot-2, 200-plus-pound frame to be a handful for the opposition.
Michael Brandsegg-Nygård, RW, Skellefteå (DET)
Though still with the Detroit Red Wings in training camp, expectations are that Brandsegg-Nygård will be coming back to Sweden. After spending the last two seasons with Mora IK in the Hockey Allsvenskan, the 18-year-old Norwegian forward is going to get his first run in Sweden’s top pro league this season.
He has a great shot and can get it off from just about anywhere. On top of that, Brandsegg-Nygård is an abrasive, aggressive player who can play physically and take charge on the forecheck. He’s going to need to make some adjustments as he gets going in the SHL, but there’s a lot to like about his game.
Damian Clara, G, Färjestad (ANA)
One of the top goalie prospects in Sweden is actually an Italian international. Clara is a big man with a massive ceiling both literally and figuratively. He’s 6-foot-6 and 214 pounds and is coming off of an especially impressive pro season in the Allsvenskan.
During the 2023-24 campaign, the second-round pick by the Ducks, posted a .913 save percentage in 34 games during the regular season. He shined brightest, however, in Brynäs’s bid to gain promotion to the SHL, which they did. Clara had a .935 save percentage while going 10-1-0 in the qualification tournament.
Through three appearances this year with Färjestad, Clara has a .912 save percentage and has won each of his two starts.
Oskar Vuollet, C/W, Skellefteå (CAR)
Just yesterday, Vuollet became one of the youngest players in SHL history to record a hat trick in a game, doing so in a 5-2 win over Luleå. The Carolina Hurricanes fifth-round pick in 2024 has four goals through his first five games this season after registering zero points in 15 SHL appearances a season ago. He was a high scorer in the U20 ranks, but this start has been nothing short of impressive.
Other Notable U23 NHL Prospects To Watch In The SHL
- Dominik Badinka, D, Malmö (Carolina Hurricanes)
- Jack Berglund, C/W, Färjestad BK (Philadelphia Flyers)
- Noah Dower-Nilsson, C, Frölunda (Detroit Red Wings)
- Melvin Fernström, RW, Örebro HK (Vancouver Canucks)
- Oscar Fisker Mølgaard, C, HV71 (Seattle Kraken)
- Zeb Forsfjäll, C, Skellefteå AIK (Seattle Kraken)
- Eddie Genborg, F, Linköping HC (2025 NHL Draft Eligible)
- Mattias Hävelid, D, Linköping HC (San Jose Sharks)
- Ludvig Jansson, D, Luleå (Florida Panthers)
- Anton Johansson, D, Leksands (Detroit Red Wings)
- Oliver Kapanen, C, Timrå (Montreal Canadiens)
- Viktor Nörringer, LW, Frölunda HC (Nashville Predators)
- Joel Nyström, D, Färjestad BK (Carolina Hurricanes)
- Lucas Pettersson, C, MoDo Hockey (Anaheim Ducks)
- Luka Radivojvich, D, Örebro HK (2025 NHL Draft Eligible)
- Leo Sahlin Wallenius, D, Växjo Lakers HC (San Jose Sharks)
- Victor Stjernborg, C/W, Växjö Lakers HC (Chicago Blackhawks)
- Alberg Sjoberg, D, Malmö Redhawks (Dallas Stars)
- Linus Sjödin, C/W, Rögle BK (Buffalo Sabres)
- Noah Steen, LW, Örebro HK (Tampa Bay Lightning)
- Joel Svensson, C/W, Växjö (Chicago Blackhawks)
- Herman Träff, LW, HV71 (New Jersey Devils)
- Fabian Wagner, C/W, Linköping HC (Winnipeg Jets)
How To Stream The SHL In The United States
FloHockey is the SHL's exclusive streaming partner in the U.S. for 100 English commentary games throughout the 2024-25 season and beyond. Sign up here to gain access to each game live and on demand.
SHL Games Streaming On FloHockey In October
To view the October SHL broadcast schedule on FloHockey, click here.
- Oct. 3, Frölunda vs. MoDo
- Oct. 5: Örebro vs. Leksands
- Oct. 10: Frölunda vs. Färjestad
- Oct. 12: Skellefteå vs. Timra
- Oct. 17: Örebro vs. Rögle
- Oct. 19: Frölunda vs. Växjö
- Oct. 22: Skellefteå vs. Linköping
- Oct. 24: HV71 vs. Brynäs
Notable SHL Alumni Currently In the NHL
The SHL has been one of the most reliable producers of NHL talent in Europe. Here is just a small selection of current NHL players that first developed their games in the SHL.
- Elias Pettersson, C, Vancouver Canucks (Växjö)
- Victor Hedman, D, Tampa Bay Lightning (MoDo)
- Erik Karlsson, D, Pittsburgh Penguins (Frölunda HC)
- William Nylander, C/W, Toronto Maple Leafs (MoDo)
- Adrian Kempe, RW, Los Angeles Kings (MoDo)
- Kevin Fiala, LW, Los Angeles Kings (HV71)
- Linus Ullmark, G, Ottawa Senators (MoDo)
- Jacob Markstrom, G, New Jersey Devils (Brynäs)
NHL Prospect Coverage On FloHockey
The best, and most complete, coverage of the NHL minor league hockey and NHL Draft is found on FloHockey. Don't miss the latest new prospect guides, rankings and more from Chris Peters and the FloHockey staff.
Watch ECHL, USHL, AHL And More On FloHockey
FloHockey is the streaming home to some of the best hockey leagues in North America, including the ECHL and more. Check out the broadcast schedule to watch more hockey.
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