Lars Jonsson

Lars Martin Jonsson (born 2 January 1982) is a Swedish former professional ice hockey defenceman. He played most of his career, which lasted from 1999 to 2013, in Sweden for Leksands IF, Timrå IK, HV71, and Brynäs IF. He spent two years in North America playing for the Philadelphia Flyers organization, appearing in eight National Hockey League (NHL) games.

Playing career Jonsson began playing for Leksands IF of Elitserien in 1999. Shortly after the season ended, he was drafted in the first round of the 2000 NHL entry draft by the Boston Bruins. Although the Bruins continually showed interest in him, attempting to sign him several times, they ran into issues with the NHL Collective Bargaining Agreement, which now states that European prospects will no longer remain indefinite property of the teams that draft them. As a result, the Bruins chose not to sign him and decided to instead receive the 37th overall pick in the 2006 Draft as compensation. The Bruins selected Yuri Alexandrov, a Russian defenseman who would play 66 games with the Providence Bruins during the 2010-11 AHL season before returning to Russia in 2011.

On the first day of free agency, Jonsson signed a one-year contract with the Philadelphia Flyers. He alternated between the Flyers and their AHL affiliate, the Philadelphia Phantoms. Although an ankle sprain caused him to miss the beginning of the 2006–07 season, he started with the Flyers, mainly on the powerplay, but he was sent down to play for the Phantoms after two games to adjust to North American hockey. He was called back up to the Flyers on 21 November 2006. He was later reassigned to the Phantoms on 27 September 2007.

Having spent two seasons in North America, Jonsson returned to the Swedish Elitserien by signing a two-year contract with Brynäs IF on 15 May 2008.

On 15 August 2013, Jonsson officially announced his retirement from hockey.

Awards Named Best Defenseman in TV-pucken in 1998. Bronze medal at the IIHF World U18 Championship in 2000. Promotion to Elitserien with Leksands IF in 2002.

Career statistics Regular season and playoffs Regular seasonPlayoffs Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM 1998–99 Leksands IF J20 40 4 8 12 42 — — — — — 1999–2000 Leksands IF J20 34 16 22 38 50 2 0 0 0 0 1999–2000 Leksands IF SEL 5 0 0 0 4 — — — — — 1999–2000 Leksands IF SWE U18 — — — — — 4 0 1 1 10 2000–01 Leksands IF J20 3 1 2 3 2 4 0 1 1 4 2000–01 Leksands IF SEL 31 2 1 3 12 — — — — — 2001–02 Leksands IF SWE.2 40 2 8 10 94 8 0 2 2 6 2001–02 Leksands IF J20 — — — — — 4 2 1 3 4 2002–03 Leksands IF J20 1 1 1 2 0 — — — — — 2002–03 Leksands IF SEL 21 0 0 0 12 5 0 0 0 2 2002–03 IFK Arboga IK SWE.2 4 0 0 0 4 — — — — — 2002–03 IF Björklöven SWE.2 9 3 4 7 10 — — — — — 2003–04 Leksands IF J20 1 2 1 3 0 — — — — — 2003–04 Leksands IF SEL 50 3 9 12 30 — — — — — 2004–05 Timrå IK SEL 50 5 6 11 32 7 0 0 0 2 2005–06 HV71 SEL 50 11 16 27 46 11 2 3 5 14 2006–07 Philadelphia Flyers NHL 8 0 2 2 6 — — — — — 2006–07 Philadelphia Phantoms AHL 40 4 11 15 26 — — — — — 2007–08 Philadelphia Phantoms AHL 44 5 13 18 18 7 1 4 5 6 2008–09 Brynäs IF SEL 53 9 12 21 26 4 0 0 0 2 2009–10 Brynäs IF SEL 8 1 3 4 8 — — — — — 2010–11 Brynäs IF SEL 45 13 7 20 20 5 1 2 3 4 2011–12 Brynäs IF SEL 42 0 6 6 12 16 0 1 1 18 2012–13 Brynäs IF SEL 6 0 0 0 2 — — — — — 2012–13 Almtuna IS SWE.2 3 1 0 1 0 — — — — — SEL totals 361 44 60 104 204 48 3 6 9 42 NHL totals 8 0 2 2 6 — — — — — AHL totals 84 9 24 33 44 7 1 4 5 6

International Year Team Event GP G A Pts PIM 2000 Sweden WJC18 6 0 0 0 2 2002 Sweden WJC 7 1 1 2 8 Junior totals 13 1 1 2 10