| Born: | Feb 26, 1975 | Draft: | 1995 Bruins, 177th Overall |
| Hometown: | Kungälv, Sweden | Position: | Left Wing |
| Known For: | Olympic Gold Medal (2006) | Shoots: | Left |
| National Team: | Sweden | Current Status: | Retired |
P.J. Axelsson (born February 26, 1975) is a retired Swedish ice hockey player, having played his final year in the NHL with the Boston Bruins during the 2008-09 season. Drafted by the Bruins 177th overall in the 1995 NHL Entry Draft, Axelsson played 11 seasons in the NHL, all with the team that drafted him. He is one of 12 Bruins’ players to have spent their career in Boston, joining the likes of Wayne Cashman, Jack Crawford, and Tuukka Rask. While never establishing himself as a goal-scoring forward, Axelsson’s gritty play and two-way defensive play earned him credibility at the NHL level, making him a fan favourite in Boston during his time in the city. Axelsson’s NHL run concluded at the end of the 2008-09 season, as he returned to Sweden to play in four seasons with Frölunda HC of the Swedish Hockey League (SHL). Axelsson retired from the sport on Apr 10, 2013.
Internationally, Axelsson represented Sweden on ten occasions, including the IIHF World Junior Championship (1995), Ice Hockey World Championships (2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005), World Cup of Hockey (2004), and Olympic Games (2002, 2006). Axelsson has one gold medal, two silver medals and two bronze medals, including an Olympic gold medal. Axelsson currently serves as the Bruins’ European scouting co-ordinator.
P.J. Axelsson Statistics
Deeper Dive
Front Office History
- Boston Bruins (European amateur scout) 2013-2021
- Boston Bruins (European scouting co-ordinator) 2021-present
Achievements
- J20 SM Gold Medal (1995)
- U20 WJC Bronze Medal (1995)
- Elitserien SM Silver Medal (1996)
- 2x World Championship Bronze Medal (2001, 2002)
- 2x World Championship Silver Medal (2003, 2004)
- Elitserien Champion (2005)
- Olympic Gold Medal (2006)