Photo: NHL.com
The Washington Capitals have re-signed forward Axel Jonsson-Fjallby to a two-year, two-way contract, senior vice president and general manager Brian MacLellan announced today. The contract will pay him $750,000 NHL/$175,000 AHL in 2021-22 and $750,000 NHL/$225,000 AHL in 2022-23.
In 31 games with the Hershey Bears in the 2020-21 season, Jonsson-Fjallby, 23, recorded 15 points (10g, 5a), setting an AHL career high in goals per game (0.32) and ranking third on the Bears in goals. The 6’1″, 194-pound forward also participated in 25 games with Vastervik IK in the Swedish Hockey League, where he recorded 15 points (4g, 11a).
The Axe man commeth! Axel Jonsson-Fjallby goes coast-to-coast for his 5th tally of the season. This is AJF’s 100th AHL game. #CapsProspect #ALLCAPS #HBH pic.twitter.com/yop9lpouUn
— NoVa Caps (@NoVa_Caps) April 22, 2021
In 108 career games with the Bears, the Stockholm, Sweden, native has recorded 41 points (24g, 17a).
Axel Jonsson-Fjallby rips one from just inside the blueline. Bears lead 1-0. #ALLCAP #CapsProspect pic.twitter.com/rANb6QxBO6
— NoVa Caps (@NoVa_Caps) March 6, 2021
Jonsson-Fjallby recorded 23 points (12g, 11a) in 61 games with Hershey in 2019-20. He was tied for first on the team in shorthanded points (1g, 2a), ranked fifth in plus/minus (9) and tied for sixth in goals.
The Axe man does it again. That’s Jonsson-Fjallby’s 10th of the season. Bears lead 1-0. #CapsProspect #ALLCAPS #HBH pic.twitter.com/Zqnlbso7qN
— NoVa Caps (@NoVa_Caps) May 8, 2021
During the 2018-19 season, the Stockholm, Sweden, native recorded three points (2g, 1a) before he was loaned to Djurgardens IF in the Swedish Hockey League, where he would record 10 points (1g, 9a) in 36 games. Jonsson-Fjallby added another 12 points (7g, 5a) in 19 playoff games with Djurgadens IF.
Connor McMichael makes nice feed to Axel Jonsson-Fjallby for his first tally of the season. Bears lead 4-1. #ALLCAPS #CapsProspect #flOMG pic.twitter.com/Qsk41Pt5go
— NoVa Caps (@NoVa_Caps) February 27, 2021
In 102 career games in the Swedish Hockey League, Jonsson-Fjallby has recorded 27 points (8g, 19a).
The Capitals selected Jonsson-Fjallby with their fifth-round pick, 147th overall, in the 2016 NHL Draft.
They need to give this kid a real shot at Hagelin’s spot. I love Hags, but given his limited offensive capability he’s too expensive at $2M more than they’re paying AJF. If AJF can win the spot and allow the Caps to move Hagelin that would open up enough cap space to bring in a couple more Hershey bodies during the year to take some load off the old farts in the lineup.
Gersich is another candidate for that same slot, now that he’s transitioned from trying to be a scorer to being a bottom-6 guy who uses his speed and grit to defend.
If either of those guys can push out Hagelin, the Caps really benefit as a team.
Agree on your depth chart for 4th line, with Axel at first spot to replace Hags. The Capitals and Bears seem to be grooming him as such, with significant PK time, etc.