Axelsson Returns Home: Signs With Frolunda

Today marked an official end to the career of P.J Axelsson as a member of the Boston Bruins (for now), and possibly the NHL. It was clearly obvious to the Bruins fan base that their favorite Swede and under-appreciated penalty killer wasn't going to be returning to the Hub of Hockey for a 12th season, but the wishful thinking was active among the Garden faithful.

The doubts were reinforced with the Bruins July 1st signing of grinding left-winger Steve Begin to a one year deal worth 850,000 dollars. This was clearly a move to replace what the Bruins were anticipating to lose with the expected departures of Stephane Yelle and P.J Axelsson on the lower lines. Begin, who turned 31 last month is expected to see most of his ice time on the Bruins penalty kill, something that earned him his pay-checks in Montreal and Dallas.

Despite the addition of Begin into Boston, it's going to feel exceptionally weird on October 1st when we don't see Axelsson take the ice for the pre-game skate for the first time since 1996.

Axelsson's 797 games with the Boston Bruins, a truly rare scene in the current NHL due to the salary cap and free agency, put Axelsson in all different roles within the Bruins roster. Whether it varied from being on the Bruins top line or relying on the crafty Frolunda, Sweeden native to perform his Selke-like defense on the penalty kill, you could never say that P.J didn't give it his all out on the ice for the black and gold.

Personally, P.J Axelsson epitomized the common Bruin. He never had the goal scoring skills or enforcer's mentality, but when Axelsson took the ice, you knew you were going to see a player who'd never quit. His aggresiveness on the puck and smart style of play made him a fan favorite to the point where the 34 year old was running an annual pajama-pledging-drive.

Although reports indicate that the Bruin was offered multi-year contracts by fellow Eastern Conference foes, the deals were based on teams abilities to clear cap space, which (obviously) didn't pan out and with the Axelsson family expecting their new child in October, the idea of moving his family out of Boston became more of a nuisance than anything else when the Frolunda Indians came with a multi-year offer for "Peej".

The four year offer to play in his hometown was an offer P.J accepted with seemingly great ease. This is Axe's second stint with Frolunda H.C, a team he spent the entire duration of the NHL lockout with. In his first stint with the Indians, Axelsson's 10 assists in the playoffs set a record for the Elitserien (or also known as the Swedish Elite League).

Although the door remains open for Axelsson's return to the NHL in the future, it appears that his career as a Bruin is officially in the books.

Thank you P.J, see you in February when you suit up in that blue and yellow in Vancouver for the Olympics.