P. J. Axelsson

P. J. Axelsson
Born 26 February 1975 (1975-02-26) (age 36)
Kungälv, Sweden
Height 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Weight 184 lb (83 kg; 13 st 2 lb)
Position Left wing
Shoots Left
SEL team
Former teams		 Frölunda Indians
Boston Bruins (NHL)
National team  Sweden
NHL Draft 177th overall, 1995
Boston Bruins
Playing career 1993–present
Medal record
Men's ice hockey
Olympic Games
Gold 2006 Turin Ice hockey
World Championships
Silver 2004 Team
Silver 2003 Team
Bronze 2002 Team
Bronze 2001 Team

Anders Per-Johan Axelsson (born 26 February 1975), commonly abbreviated to P. J. Axelsson, is a Swedish professional ice hockey player with Frölunda HC of the Swedish Elitserien. His nickname in Sweden is "Pebben". He was the longest-tenured Bruin at the time of his departure from the NHL, having been with the Boston team from 1997–2009.

Axelsson plays as a left winger. Although he has not 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, has made him a fan favourite of the Boston Bruins, Frölunda HC, and the Swedish national team, Tre Kronor.

Contents

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.

Off the ice

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.[2]

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 Västra Frölunda HC SEL 11 0 0 0 4 4 0 0 0 0
1994–95 Västra Frölunda HC SEL 8 2 1 3 6 — — — — —
1995–96 Västra Frölunda HC SEL 36 15 5 20 10 13 3 0 3 10
1996–97 Västra Frölunda HC SEL 50 19 15 34 34 3 0 2 2 0
1997–98 Boston Bruins NHL 82 8 19 27 38 6 1 0 1 0
1998–99 Boston Bruins NHL 77 7 10 17 18 12 1 1 2 4
1999–00 Boston Bruins NHL 81 10 16 26 24 — — — — —
2000–01 Boston Bruins NHL 81 8 15 23 27 — — — — —
2001–02 Boston Bruins NHL 78 7 17 24 16 6 2 1 3 6
2002–03 Boston Bruins NHL 66 17 19 36 24 5 0 0 0 6
2003–04 Boston Bruins NHL 78 7 17 24 16 6 2 1 3 6
2004–05 Frölunda HC SEL 33 4 9 13 83 14 1 10 11 18
2005–06 Boston Bruins NHL 59 10 18 28 4 — — — — —
2006–07 Boston Bruins NHL 55 11 16 27 52 — — — — —
2007–08 Boston Bruins NHL 75 13 16 29 15 7 0 0 0 2
2008–09 Boston Bruins NHL 75 6 24 30 16 11 0 1 1 2
2009–10 Frölunda HC SEL 47 10 16 26 51 5 1 0 1 6
2010–11 Frölunda HC SEL 50 4 10 14 41 — — — — —
SEL totals 247 59 56 115 241 43 5 12 17 34
NHL totals 797 103 184 287 276 54 4 3 7 24

References

  1. ^ "Axelsson agrees to a three-year contract extension". Boston Bruins. http://www.bostonbruins.com/pressbox/pressreleases.asp?id=1644. Retrieved 3 December 2006. 
  2. ^ "Bruins Roster - P. J. Axelsson". Boston Bruins. Archived from the original on 11 November 2006. http://web.archive.org/web/20061111185609/http://www.bostonbruins.com/team/playerinfo.asp?playerid=244. Retrieved 3 December 2006. 

External links