The Detroit Red Wings assigned defenseman Axel Sandin-Pellikka to the Grand Rapids Griffins on Friday and recalled defenseman Jacob Bernard-Docker from the AHL club in a swap of blueliners. Sandin-Pellikka, 21, was Detroit’s first-round pick, 17th overall, in the 2023 NHL Draft.

Sandin-Pellikka has one assist, four penalty minutes, and a minus-1 rating in seven games with Detroit this season. As a rookie in 2025-26 he played 68 games and had 21 points (seven goals, 14 assists). His ice time has dropped from 16:13 a night last season to 12:42 this season, and rookies Anton Johansson and William Wallinder have moved ahead of him on the depth chart, Detroit Hockey Now reported. Coach Todd McLellan said Thursday that the young Swede needs to be playing, telling reporters, “Axe needs to play now.”

He has played in Grand Rapids before, with four points in eight regular-season AHL games over the past two seasons and four more in eight Calder Cup Playoff games last spring. Before coming to North America he played three seasons in the SHL, and he was named best defenseman at the 2025 World Junior Championship while captaining Sweden.

Bernard-Docker, 26, has not played for Detroit this season. He opened the year on injured reserve with an upper-body injury, was activated Oct. 8, cleared waivers, and was assigned to Grand Rapids, where he has played three games with a plus-1 rating. He played 63 games for the Red Wings last season with one goal and four assists, and has 29 points in 207 career NHL games.

The move comes during a busy week for Detroit’s roster. Dylan Larkin was suspended without pay Thursday after saying he will not play again until he is traded, and the Red Wings recalled forward Sheldon Dries the same day. Detroit hosts the St. Louis Blues on Saturday at Little Caesars Arena. The Griffins visit the Chicago Wolves on Sunday.

Sources

• Grand Rapids Griffins: Sandin-Pellikka assigned to Grand Rapids, Bernard-Docker recalled, Oct. 30, 2026
• Detroit Hockey Now: Red Wings ship out ASP, recall JBD, Oct. 30, 2026
• Pro Hockey Rumors: Red Wings recall Jacob Bernard-Docker, reassign Axel Sandin-Pellikka, Oct. 30, 2026
• Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) on X, Oct. 30, 2026