The Washington Capitals have recalled forward Axel Jonsson-Fjallby from the Hershey Bears of the American Hockey League (AHL) and re-assigned goaltender Zach Fucale to Hershey, senior vice president and general manager Brian MacLellan announced today.
Axel Jonsson-Fjallby with his 10th goal of the season. It’s another shorthanded tally for the Chocolate and White. Bears lead 1-0. #HBH #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/Qo1DSB0Rru
— Capitals Prospects (@jon_m_sorensen) January 16, 2022
Jonsson-Fjallby, 24, has recorded one assist in nine games with Washington this season and made his NHL debut on Nov. 8, 2021, against the Buffalo Sabres. The 6’1″, 189-pound forward is tied for second on Hershey this season with 34 points (16g, 18a) in 44 games.
Axel Jonsson-Fjallby with a filthy top-shelf snipe. #SpeedKills #HBH #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/EN2asULMTb
— Capitals Prospects (@jon_m_sorensen) February 12, 2022
In 31 games with the Bears last season, the Stockholm, Sweden, native recorded 15 points (10g, 5a) and set an AHL career high in goals per game (0.32). Jonsson-Fjallby also played in 26 games with Vastervik IK in the Swedish Hockey League, where he recorded 15 points (4g, 11a).
The Axe Man cometh! Axel Jonsson-Fjallby wins it for the Bears in overtime. #HBH #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/hZUM8JLrxC
— Capitals Prospects (@jon_m_sorensen) December 12, 2021
In 152 career games with the Bears, Jonsson-Fjallby has recorded 75 points (40g, 35a).
The Capitals selected Jonsson-Fjallby with their fifth-round pick, 147th overall, in the 2016 NHL Draft. If he plays a game and were to get sent back down to the AHL, he would have to go through waivers.
Axel Jonsson-Fjallby from the top of the slot for his team-leading 15th goal of the season. Bears lead 1-0. #HBH #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/jTu7ItMXJo
— Capitals Prospects (@jon_m_sorensen) February 20, 2022
Fucale, 26, has posted a record of 1-1-1 with one shutout, a 1.75 goals-against average and a .924 save percentage in four games for the Capitals this season. Fucale became the first goaltender in franchise history to record a shutout in his NHL debut when he stopped all 21 shots against the Detroit Red Wings on Nov. 11 at Little Caesars Arena.
In his second career NHL start on Jan. 8 against the Minnesota Wild, Fucale broke a Washington franchise record for the longest shutout streak by a goaltender from the start of a tenure with the franchise in the first period, besting Cristobal Huet’s mark of 80:36. In the second period, he broke the NHL record for the longest career-opening shutout sequence. Fucale’s streak ended at 138 minutes and 17 seconds, beating Matt Hackett’s (Minnesota) mark of 102:48 set in 2011.
In 20 games with the Bears this season, Fucale has posted a record of 8-8-4 with a 2.85 goals-against average and a .884 save percentage.
Axel staying in Washington, this time.
Yep. Black ace for the playoffs too.
clearly true. Cool. Someone will have to go down to Hershey to make room, I think. Snively?
He’s IR for a few weeks though. Fucale went down in his place I think.
Hate to see Hags replaced by AJF this way. I feel it was going to happen, eventually, but hate seeing it go down this way. Hope Hags is ok.
If he doesn’t play he can go back down waiver-free. But on his next game he is here to stay. And I am ok with that. It will be either him or Sprong in the lineup. With a 4-0 win, I imagine AJF will remain in stands while Sprong gets a jersey. Continue to see Sheary on the 4th line (perhaps our most important line).
It’s not that the 4th line is the best line (it is), it’s that Nic Dowd is a legitimately good 3rd line center. He’s a lot more Yanni Gourde than Boyd Gordon.
Especially if Sheary plays on the 4th line, it would be better for McMichael to center him than to play Eller’s wing, imo.
Any hags update?
If AJF gets cut in training camp in September, does he have to go thru waivers?