P. J. Axelsson

Anders Per-Johan Axelsson (born 26 February 1975), commonly abbreviated to P. J. Axelsson, is a Swedish former 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 1997–2009. Axelsson represented Sweden internationally in multiple competitions and helped them with a gold medal at the 2006 Winter Olympics.

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, scoring 27 points 8 goals 19 assists, 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 his first two seasons with the Bruins he was a part of the hero line along with Tim Taylor and Rob DiMaio, the line were known for their defensive and timely scoring. However Taylor was gone from the team the following year during the 1999–2000 Season. During that season Axelsson played in 81 games and scored 10 goals for the first time along with 16 assists. During the following year in 2000-200 Axelsson was paired with the newly acquired Brian Rolston and the two became a dominant force on the Bruins penalty kill, along with contributing shot handed goals. Hockey writer Scott Wood stated “PJ absolutely picked apart opposing teams in the neutral zone and frustrated breakouts and powerplay setups with a kind of sixth sense that I’d never seen from an NHL forward and likely never will again. He would dart in and out of passing lanes, deceiving opponents’ transition games, making life hell for the attack.” During his first season back the Bruins in 2005-2006 Axelsson scored 28 points in 59 games. He continued to miss games due to injuries the following year only making 55 appearances however he still scored 27 points. In 2007-2008 he played in 75 games scoring 29 points. On 21 February 2008, Axelsson played his 700th NHL game in Sunrise, Florida, a 5–4 shootout win over the Florida Panthers. The 2008-2009 season marked Axelsson’s last with the Bruins he once again appeared in 75 games scoring 30 points 6 goals and a career best 24 assists.

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. Axelsson continued to be a solid player during his final 4 years, and then following the 2012-2013 goals, On 10 April 2013, he announced his retirement from professional hockey. Throughout his career he was known for his unwavering effort level, grit and ability to make great plays on defensive and offensive. He was partly responsible for the drafting by the Bruins of Swedish junior ice hockey defenseman Axel Andersson in the second round of the 2018 NHL entry draft as player #57 overall. Axelsson held the position of amateur scout till 2020, then by the time of the 2021 NHL off-season, Axelsson was promoted to the Bruins' European scouting co-ordinator, helping his former NHL team select Swedish junior forward Fabian Lysell as the Bruins' top pick in the 2021 NHL entry draft.

On 14 January 2014 Axelsson drop the ceremonial first puck at a Bruins home game vs the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Personal life

Axelsson is married and has two children, a daughter named Wilma and a son named Wilson. He and his family live in Sweden, during his spare time, he enjoys golf and football. His younger brother Anton Axelsson is also a professional ice hockey player.

Career achievements

Bronze medal at the Ice Hockey World Championships in 2001 and 2002. Silver medal at the Ice Hockey World Championships in 2003 and 2004. Elitserien champion with Frölunda HC in 2005. Gold medal at the Winter Olympics in 2006. Eddie Shore Award winner in 2006. Named one of the top 100 best Bruins players of all time.

Records

Elitserien record for most assists in a single playoffs (10)

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM 1992–93 Västra Frölunda HC SWE U20 16 9 5 14 12 — — — — — 1992–93 Västra Frölunda HC Allsv 1 0 0 0 0 — — — — — 1993–94 Västra Frölunda HC SEL 11 0 0 0 4 4 0 0 0 0 1994–95 Västra Frölunda HC J20 19 16 9 25 22 — — — — — 1994–95 Västra Frölunda HC SEL 8 2 1 3 6 — — — — — 1994–95 Västra Frölunda HC Allsv 3 0 0 0 0 5 0 0 0 0 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 1999–2000 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 45 9 9 18 95 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 — — — — — 2011–12 Frölunda HC SEL 52 2 12 14 22 4 0 0 0 2 2012–13 Frölunda HC SEL 49 6 10 16 10 2 0 0 0 2 SEL totals 3486778145273 455121738 NHL totals 797103184287276 5443724

International Year Team Event GP G A Pts PIM 1995 Sweden WJC 7 2 3 5 2 2000 Sweden WC 6 1 3 4 2 2001 Sweden WC 9 3 6 9 12 2002 Sweden OG 4 0 0 0 2 2002 Sweden WC 5 3 3 6 4 2003 Sweden WC 9 4 3 7 16 2004 Sweden WC 7 2 3 5 8 2004 Sweden WCH 4 0 0 0 2 2005 Sweden WC 7 1 0 1 2 2006 Sweden OG 8 3 3 6 0 Senior totals 59 17 21 38 48