PJ Axelsson suspended 2 games for knätackling

Yes, it's true. PJ "Pebben" Axelsson was suspended today for a knee-on-knee hit on Marcus Paulsson, former Islanders' 5th-round pick...from 2002. The hit is near the end of the video, from Aftonbladet:

Normally I'd get youtube for this sort of thing but it's just not available there. Yet.

If you watch that video above you get to see Pebben hit the guy and then flip out a bit because the guy turned at the last second. PJ was ejected from the game immediately. Frolunda still won but

PJ has of course reached out and apologized for the hit. If you look at it, he's not going for knee-on-knee but he certainly ends up doing it. In the Hockey Expressen article, they say: "Per-Johan Axelsson kommer in bredbent och utdelar en tackling, som till följd av att motspelaren plötsligt vrider sig, träffar olyckligt och orsakar skada." which in non-moonspeak means something along the lines of "Pebben skated in for the hit with a broad stance, and Paulsson suddenly turned, and unfortunately caught his knee"

Here's the picture of the aftermath, you can tell the right leg is a lot bigger than the left:

ouch.

So, I think we all learned an important lesson. Don't get drafted by the Islanders in the 5th round in 2002.

Thanks to @puckarinen and @sarah_connors for the heads-up.

GO INDIANS!

GO BRUINS!

It's on.

Get to this video. Worth every second.
GO BRUINS!

Adventures in Poetry

I wrote this back in august in the comments section over at Pension Plan Puppets, a Toronto Maple Leafs blog but the post got pseudo-deleted before I could share it with all of you. Luckily, one of the stunningly handsome and charming gents who runs Pension Plan Puppets, a Toronto Maple Leafs blog was able to drag it out of the hidden archives, and now I get to share it with you. I hope you like it.

p.j.
    axelsson
beloved winger
defensive specialist
penalty killer
a man you can depend on for
 terrible hair
     excellent vision
        loyalty to a fault
truly
you will be missed

Yes this is the second Axelsson item on the blog today. Deal with it.

GO BRUINS!

Pebben about Boston: "I'm not bitter"

From sometimes commenter and fellow Axelsson fan sleza comes another translated Swedish article, this time from hockeyexpressen, which ran the interview on Friday.

Per-Johan Axelsson had invested everything in for one more NHL year. But after 11 seasons in Boston he didn't fit (be good enough) anymore.
- I'm not bitter. One knows that it's business what it's about, says Frölunda forward, who still hopes to land in North America during this season.

When August turns into September and autumn unmercifully presses itself, Per-Johan Axelsson use to leave Göteborg for Boston. But instead of another season in North America, has hockey life taken him to Karlovy Vary and the Czech countryside to play with Tre Kronors (Swedish national team) in Czech Hockey Games.
Everything but flashy NHL life can be said, but instead Pebben says:
- I've always liked to play in the national team, so it's only cool and exciting. It's been awhile since the last time.
National team tournament, which started well with a shootout win over Russia (4-3), is his first after Olympic gold in Turin 2006.

When the end became clear with Boston, was Frölunda a obvious choice for 34 year old. Axelsson, who won SM gold (Championship in the Elitserien a.k.a. Swedish Elite League) with the club during the lockout season, has signed a 4 yeal deal.
During his 11 season in classic Bruins, he was the player who was there the longest. After last season he was told that Boston was interested in to continue the contract with him, but in the end it came nothing.
- I don't want to stay for just any kind of price, says Axelsson who wasn't specially interested in to change a club.
Now stays the Axelsson family in Göteborg, daughter Wilma has started preschool and will get a sibling.

How has the first time been?
- Lots of training. But it's nice to work and accustom a bit. It's a very big ice coverage. it's a big difference. It's going to take a bit time but it gets better.
Against Russia he played in the first line with "radar pair" (two players that play well together) Tony Mårtensson and Mattias Weinhandl.
- It's the first time I played with then but I know what it's for players. A passing player and a sniper. So I'll try to stay away, says Axelsson and laughs.

Even if there'll be no continue in NHL, is the goal for him to go to North America anyway. Head coach (national team) Bengt-Åke Gustafsson values Axelsson's qualities and Olympics in Vancouver in February is the great goal.
- Yes, it's obvious. It has been extremely cool. I've been with two times earlier, says he.
The move to home hasn't killed his Olympic hope. Just made the road there a bit longer.

Thanks again for sleza for translating this for us. Yes, there haven't been many updates recently on here but nothing's been going on and I got a new job and apartment, so here we are.

Go Indians and
GO BRUINS!

P.J. Axelsson interview in HockeyBladet

This is a Swedish interview with P.J. "Pebben" Axelsson. It was translated by my new favorite Finn, sleza. I cleaned up the translation a little bit. I think it captures the spirit of the thing, which is basically a smear article against the Bruins. Whether P.J. was taken out of context or not, I do not know. It comes from the Swedish hockey news site, hockeybladet.se. Let's read together:

Thought he could stay in NHL: "I think it was poor of Boston."

Yesterday Per-Johan Axelsson made a comeback in Frölunda. After 11 years in NHL he felt rejected and fooled by Boston. "It was bad. They said they were interested in but it wasn't so," says Per-Johan Axelsson, 34.

In Boston Per-Johan Axelsson was one of the great profiles and during latter years he was a veteran of the team and club. In spring his deal with Boston ended but fans and Per-Johan Axelsson himself were hoping he'd play in Boston another year. But Pebben became a pawn in political game where money plays the main role. He also was fooled by team management. "When the season was over in Boston, I went to team management and said that I want to stay. I could play for a lower price too," says Per-Johan Axelsson.

Pebben and Boston talked during the whole summer and he thought he would stay in the club. But such a contract offer didn't came. "I think it was bad from Boston. They said they were interested but it wasn't so. But everything is relative there," says Axelsson. When Pebben decided to continue his career in Frölunda, he got 2 calls from Boston. "Both Don Sweeney and Cam Neely called and thanked me for the time in Boston."

Yesterday Pebben played his first game in Frölunda (4-3 against LHC). He was tired and rested most of the third period in the game against Linköping (LHC). "There's lot of ice in Sweden. It is actually a huge difference from NHL. But my game will come. I will train extra," says Pebben. He also thinks that the game is different in Sweden compared with NHL: "In NHL it's more puck in the stick and go."

Even though Pebben didn't have a perfect game, Frölunda won 4-3. There was also a first taste about the 1st line, in which Riku Hahl will center Joel Lundqvist - injures yesterday - and Per-Johan Axelsson.
Editor's note: You read that right, folks: P.J. is back on the top line. He already has at least an assist in preseason play. Thanks again to sleza for translating this for us.

GO INDIANS!
Holy crap I can't wait for the season to start.
GO BRUINS!

P.J. Axelsson Swedish play and interview

Howdy y'all. Here's a video of P.J. "Pebben" Axelsson practicing with the Indians and talking in Swedish!

Good stuff, pointed out to me by the ever-helpful and wicked clutch sleza, who has her own blog over here.

Apparently he got a puck in the face recently and had to sit out for a preseason game or two.

And Tom Brady is back and that owns. Go Pats.

Go Indians!
GO BRUINS!

Does P.K.'s move to Sweden harm his chances at Olympic glory?

Editor's note: This was translated from an article by frequent commenter "sleza," who lives in Europe and follows the Swedish Elite League. This is translated from an interview with P.K. Axelsson by Henrik Lundgren on the swedish hockey site hockeybladet.se. (Click the link to get the original Swedish.) P.K. won a gold medal with the Swedish National team in 2006.

After 11 season in NHL and Boston Bruins it's homecoming time for Per-Johan Axelsson - a year too early. When contract with Boston ended, he hoped to get an offer from other NHL team to avoid to risk his place in Swedish Olympic team.
- There was few teams to choose but none of them were so "hot". So it was better to move home to Frölunda.

How does it affect to your Olympic chances?
-I have no idea. Bengt-Åke Gustafsson (Sweden's head coach) has just so many player where to choose and I don't play in the small rink any more. On the other hand, he has more oppurtunities to see me play live. But the Olympics are now season's maingoal for me.

In the preliminary Swedish hockey group are Pebben and new team mate in Frölunda, Joel Lundqvist, the only players who don't play in NHL
- I simply have to play great in Elitserien (SEL). That's my only chance.

Bengt-Åke Gustafsson gives him hope.
- It doesn't matter for me that he and Lundqvist play in Elitserien again, besides it spices Swedish hockey in very positive way.

Thanks again to sleza for translating this, and if they're not too busy hopefully they'll be sending us more stuff to keep track of "Pebben." We're hoping to follow him and his team (Frölunda HC - GO INDIANS!) through this year.

Because we're just not ready to let go.

GO BRUINS!

P.K. Axelsson OFFICIALLY signs with Frolunda HC for the next 4 years

According to a google translation of the official site of the Frolunda HC team, P.K. Axelsson signed with them for 4 years, signaling the end of his NHL Career.

Frölunda Hockey Club and forward Per-Johan "Pebben" Axelsson has signed a contract for four seasons.

It is now clearly with team captain for the forthcoming season.

"Pebben" returning to Frölunda after 11 seasons in the NHL where he played 797 matches (103 +184 = 287), the Boston Bruins since the season 1997/1998.

He has previously played five seasons and 184 games in Elitserien with Frölunda. Last, he became Swedish champion with Frölunda in lockutsäsongen 2004/2005.

#11 ”Pebben” Axelsson: # 11 "Pebben" Axelsson:
-Frölunda club is in my heart. I always wanted to come back here. Now fit it well and I look forward to see nice things again with the team. Saw that Joel Lundqvist was talking about winning SM-gold. It sounded good.

-The atmosphere in the Scandinavium is certainly a right uttjatat topic.But I must say that it is one of the things I missed most. Playing in there is good.

-Four years is a fairly long contract, but I is on the other hand, quite young!

I'll miss you, P.J.

BLOG NOTICE: The Hockey Blog Adventure is looking for someone to update us on how Frolunda HC does during the upcoming season. If you like writing about hockey occasionally and follow the Elitseren, please shoot me an email at hockeyblogadventure at gmail or say something in the comments.

GO BRUINS!