P. J. Axelsson

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.^[1] 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.”^[1] Axelsson continued to be a top player and helped the Bruins make the playoffs three straight years from 2001-2004. During this period he also had his best statistical season in 2002-2003, where he scored 36 points in 66 games scoring 17 goals and 19 assists.

During the 2004–05 NHL lockout, Axelsson played for Frölunda HC in Sweden and helped the team win the Le Mat Trophy, scoring 11 points in 14 playoff appearances. After the lockout, he returned to the United States to rejoin the Bruins. On his 31st birthday, 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.^[2] 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.^[3] Throughout his career he was known for his unwavering effort level, grit and ability to make great plays on defensive and offensive.^[1]

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.^[10] His younger brother Anton Axelsson is also a professional ice hockey player.

• 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.^[11]

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

• List of NHL players who spent their entire career with one franchise