P.J. AXELSSON RETURNS TO SWEDEN

The agent for checker P.J. Axelsson confirmed on Monday that the longtime Boston Bruins forward will play next season in his native Sweden.


P.J. AXELSSON AND MARCO STURM

Neil Abbott told the Boston Globe that Axelsson, 34, has signed with Frolunda of the Swedish Elite League.

Axelsson has played 797 NHL games with the Bruins, beginning with his rookie season in 1997-98. He has scored 103 goals and 184 assists for Boston, with 19 shorthanded points and 14 game-winning markers.

The Bruins did not offer the veteran a contract. Abbott said Axelsson is not necessarily marking an end to his NHL career, but that the Swedish deal made the most sense right now.

Axelsson began his pro career with Frolunda and also played for the club during the NHL lockout in 2004-05.

Born Per-Johan Axelsson, P.J. as he is known by his fellow teammates played four years with Vastra Frolunda in the Swedish Elite League, before joining the Boston Bruins in 1997.

Drafted in the seventh round, 177th overall by the Boston Bruins in 1995, Axelsson has become a solid, two-way player, who as the seasons went by started to show more offensive skills in his overall game. In 2002-03, Axelsson established a career high in points with 36 (17-19-36).

Axelsson has amased an impressive international resume that includes a bronze medal with Sweden at the 1995 World Junior Championships, a silver medal at the 2004 World Championship, and a gold medal at the 2006 World Championship and Winter Olympics.