P. J. Axelsson

P. J. Axelsson
Born (1975-02-26) 26 February 1975
Kungälv, Sweden
Height 6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight 183 lb (83 kg; 13 st 1 lb)
Position Left Wing
Shot Left
National team  Sweden
NHL Draft 177th overall, 1995
Boston Bruins
Playing career 19932012
P. J. Axelsson
Medal record
Men's ice hockey
Olympic Games
2006 Turin Ice hockey
World Championships
2003 Team
2004 Team
2001 Team
2002 Team

Anders Per-Johan Axelsson (born 26 February 1975), commonly abbreviated to P. J. Axelsson, is a retired Swedish professional ice hockey forward, who most recently played with Frölunda HC of the Swedish Elitserien. His nickname in Sweden is "Pebben". He was the longest-tenured member of the NHL's Boston Bruins at the time of his departure from North American play in 2009, having been with the Boston team from 19972009.

Axelsson played as a left winger. Although he never gained the reputation of a premier goal scorer, Axelsson's gritty, unrelenting attitude as a solid, defensive-minded forward, and his ability to make smart plays on the ice, made him a longtime fan favourite of the Boston Bruins, Frölunda HC, and the Swedish national team, Tre Kronor.

Playing career

Axelsson played four seasons for his hometown team, Frölunda HC, in the Swedish Elitserien before being drafted 177th overall in the 1995 NHL Entry Draft by the Boston Bruins.

Axelsson played all 82 games in his rookie season with the Bruins, helping them to reach the playoffs after the Bruins had missed out the previous season. He was one of the Bruins' key skill players during his career with them.

During the 2004–05 NHL lockout Axelsson played for Frölunda HC in Sweden and helped the team become the champion of Elitserien. After the lockout, he returned to the United States to rejoin the Bruins. He became an Olympic champion with Sweden at the 2006 Winter Olympics.

On 23 March 2006, he signed a three-year extension to his contract with the Boston Bruins.[1]

On 21 February 2008, Axelsson played his 700th NHL game, in Sunrise, Florida, a 5–4 shootout win over the Florida Panthers.

After helping the Bruins to the Eastern Conference semifinals during the 2008–09 NHL season, Axelsson signed a four-year contract with Frölunda HC on 27 July 2009. Upon his return, he was named as one of two alternate captains for the team.

On 10 April 2013, he announced his retirement from professional hockey.[2] Axelsson was subsequently hired by the Bruins as a European amateur scout.[3]

Personal life

Axelsson is married and has two children, a daughter named Wilma and a son named Wilson. In his spare time he enjoys golf and football.[4] His younger brother Anton Axelsson is also a professional ice hockey player.

Career achievements

Records

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

    Regular season   Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
1993–94 Frölunda HC SEL 110004 40000
1994–95 Frölunda HC SEL 82136
1995–96 Frölunda HC SEL 361552010 1330310
1996–97 Frölunda HC SEL 5019153434 30220
1997–98 Boston Bruins NHL 828192738 61010
1998–99 Boston Bruins NHL 777101718 121124
1999–00 Boston Bruins NHL 8110162624
2000–01 Boston Bruins NHL 818152327
2001–02 Boston Bruins NHL 787172416 62136
2002–03 Boston Bruins NHL 6617193624 50006
2003–04 Boston Bruins NHL 787172416 62136
2004–05 Frölunda HC SEL 33491383 141101118
2005–06 Boston Bruins NHL 591018284
2006–07 Boston Bruins NHL 5511162752
2007–08 Boston Bruins NHL 7513162915 70002
2008–09 Boston Bruins NHL 756243016 110112
2009–10 Frölunda HC SEL 4710162651 51016
2010–11 Frölunda HC SEL 504101441
2011–12 Frölunda HC SEL 522121422 40002
SEL totals 3076171132265 435121736
NHL totals 797103184287276 5443724

See also

References

  1. "Axelsson agrees to a three-year contract extension". Boston Bruins. March 23, 2006. Retrieved January 27, 2014.
  2. http://www.dn.se/sport/ishockey/pebben-avslutar-ishockeykarriaren
  3. Associated Press (August 20, 2013). "Bruins promote Gretzky, Hall of Famer's brother". ESPN. Retrieved January 27, 2014.
  4. "Bruins Roster – P. J. Axelsson". Boston Bruins. Archived from the original on 11 November 2006. Retrieved 3 December 2006.

External links

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