The Buffalo Sabres announced on Sunday that they have waived former Washington Capitals forward Axel Jonsson-Fjallby. Buffalo claimed Jonsson-Fjallby off waivers from the Capitals on Monday, but visa issues prevented him from playing in any preseason games for the Sabres.
He was a late scratch in Saturday’s preseason finale after participating in warmups.
“It’s tough on him, first,” Sabres coach Don Granato said after the Sabres’ 3-1 win over Detroit. “He comes to a team, he thinks he has a chance. We had him penciled in the first game (on Tuesday) and then tonight, it was after warmups, and we just had to pull the plug on it. So, yeah, that’s a tough one for him. It’s unfortunate. The situation and circumstances were out of our control. In that sense, they dictated the situation.”
The Sabres have placed forward Axel Jonsson-Fjallby on waivers.
Tough break for both him and the team. Never got to show what he could do on the ice because of visa delay. Sabres apparently didn’t want to keep an unknown over guys who have played.
— John Vogl (@BuffaloVogl) October 10, 2021
Fjallby, 23, was a fifth-round draft pick by the Capitals in 2016. He tallied 15 points (10+5) in 31 games with AHL Hershey last season. He signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Capitals on May 1, 2018, for $860,000 AAV and received a two-year extension on June 7, 2021.
By Jon Sorensen
That’s ridiculous. I wonder if he is only allowed to work in DC area. What a brilliant move if Caps knew that.
What a 💩 show. Poor Axel.
Should have a P-1 but might have come in on an H-2 or even an H-1. Hopefully not a B-1 or B-2. It could be that his expired. These usually can be adjudicated and adjusted in the US without having to leave. Not unusual for someone to be here on the wrong visa but the teams (Caps and Sabres) should have been on that.
Athletes under contract with the NHL, NBA, MLB, MLS and NFL need only establish that they have a major league contract to qualify for a P-1 visa. minor league contract typically are issued an H-2B visa but only for the duration of the season, up to a maximum of one year.
All visas would allow him to go anywhere in the US.
Thanks NoVa Fyre, I was wondering what the parameters might be. I wonder if he is eligible to play in DC, and nowhere else, or if this issue would still be an issue if he stayed in DC.it’s a shame, because it sounds like he was going to start for Buffalo.
The only thing I could find on the visa issue is from here…
https://buffalonews.com/sports/sabres/sabres-place-winger-axel-jonsson-fjallby-on-waivers-casey-fitzgerald-joins-amerks/article_d9384298-29ec-11ec-b6e5-e362ba03bb1e.html
“When a player is traded, his visa carries over to his new club. However, a player must reapply for a visa if he is claimed via waivers.”
Unable to view. Can you screen cap the key parts?
wow, what a ludicrous law.
Technically, these guys are here on work visas. If a player is traded he is never unemployed. When a player is put on waivers, they are in the eyes of the law unemployed. Even is it’s temporary.
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Hope Bmac claims him for Hershey. He will have a shot to make the Caps next year and in years going forward.