Axel Jonsson-Fjallby
“It is never too late to be who you might have been.”
— George Eliot
Axel Jonsson-Fjallby is beginning his seventh season under the Washington Capitals organizational umbrella. He started his climb up the Capitals’ developmental ladder when he was selected in the fifth round (147th overall) in the 2016 Entry Draft. Two more seasons in Sweden and three seasons split between Sweden and the Hershey Bears of the AHL served as preparation for last season, when he split time between the Bears and the Capitals.
It was an odd season for Jonsson-Fjallby, who started it by being placed on waivers by the Caps on October 3rd, hoping he would clear so that he could be re-assigned to Hershey, but he was claimed by the Buffalo Sabres the following day. And then, things got strange. Despite the Sabres wanting to give the youngster a shot in the late pre-season, he did not dress for the Sabres, a victim of visa issues. Just six days after claiming him on waivers, the Sabres placed him back on the waiver list. The Caps re-claimed Jonsson-Fjallby the following day, and he was back where he started, then re-assigned to Hershey.
After going 3-4-7 in nine games with the Bears, he was recalled to the big club where he made his NHL debut on November 8th. He was something of a good luck charm at the start, the Caps going 6-0-1 in his first seven games as a Capital (he was 0-1-1, plus-1). He was returned to Hershey shortly thereafter, the beginning of a cycle of recalls and reassignments that saw him spend 44 games with the Bears (16-18-34, minus-2) and 23 with the Caps (2-2-4, even) in 2021-2022.
Odd Jonsson-Fjallby Fact… Jonsson-Fjallby did not get a lot of exposure on home ice. Of the 23 games he played for the Caps, only eight of them were played before the hometown fans.
Fearless’ Take… Despite his having a productive 44 games in Hershey in 2021-2022 (16-18-34), Jonsson-Fjallby is not likely to make his living as a top-line offensive contributor. He might provide some occasional pop, but his path would seem to be more the two-way or defense-oriented game. In that regard, his brief tour with the Caps had its encouraging aspects. Four points in 23 games is not bad for a fourth liner getting 11 minutes a game in his debut season. His on-ice goal differential at even strength was “even,” and he was on ice for only seven even strength goals against. He also averaged 42 seconds of shorthanded ice time per game, which might not sound like a lot, but only Beck Malenstyn averaged more among rookie forwards (44 seconds per game).
Cheerless’ Take… That whole “good luck charm” thing didn’t last all that long, cuz. After the Caps went 6-0-1 in his first seven games, they were 8-7-1 in the last 16 games he played. There is only so much influence a rookie fourth liner who isn’t a big offensive producer can have on outcomes.
Potential Milestones to Reach in 2022-2023
Jonsson-Fjallby has not yet played enough games to think in terms of career milestones.
The Big Question… Will Axel Jonsson-Fjallby be getting a regular turn in the lineup by season’s end?
This is a question that has several paths to an answer in the affirmative, at least in theory (there is a practical consideration we will get to). And that starts with Jonsson-Fjallby seeming to be the next iteration of early-career Carl Hagelin, a bottom-six forward who can provide offense from time to time (remember, Hagelin posted more than 30 points in five of his first seven NHL seasons) but who might be of greatest value on the defensive side of the puck. First, if Hagelin’s return from a serious eye injury is delayed or derailed, it could create an opening for Jonsson-Fjallby. Along these lines, there would seem to be a decent likelihood that Hagelin could still be on the sidelines when the seasons starts, creating that opening.
Second, Hagelin could play himself out of the lineup with less than desired production. This could give Jonsson-Fjallby an opportunity to step up and claim the fourth line left wing position for himself, provided he can offer a reliable level of production.
Third, and this could be tied to the previous item, if Hagelin’s level of production is not what the Caps feel necessary for a stretch run or a postseason appearance, or if a deal emerges that would require multiple assets going the other way, does he become trade bait at the trading deadline as a part of a larger deal? If so, then Jonsson-Fjallby could be the default choice to move into that slot with an opportunity to prove himself.
Those are the theoretical paths to a more regular role in the lineup, but there is also the matter of Jonsson-Fjallby not being waiver-exempt. Exposing him to waivers – and remember, he was claimed once before – would be risky and could leave the Caps ultimately without a roster-ready player to take over that role, should he be exposed and claimed. Hagelin is an unrestricted free agent at the end of this season, and at 34 years of age, the Caps might be disinclined to offer him an extension unless it was at a heavily discounted cost. Jonsson-Fjallby is an arbitration-eligible restricted free agent after this season.
In the end…
The Caps have had some success in drafting players out of Swedish leagues over the years – Bengt Gustafsson (Farjestad BK in 1978), Nicklas Backstrom (Brynas IF in 2006), Marcus Johansson (Farjestad BK in 2009), Christian Djoos (Brynas IF Jr. in 2012), Andre Burakovsky (Malmo in 2013), Jakub Vrana (Linkoping HC in 2014), Martin Fehervary (IK Oskarshamn in 2018). Axel Jonsson-Fjallby is the first player drafted out of Djurgardens IF to play for the Caps. His path to the Caps has been long since then and is, as yet, incomplete, his having just the 23 games last year on his NHL resume. He will turn 25 years old in February, and even at that point there would be no assurances that he would occupy, or would ever occupy, a regular spot in the lineup. But the 23 games he played last year did offer some indications of the type of player he could be, and while that player would not be one with eye-popping stats, it could be one that fills a role the club would find valuable. In that regard, it certainly is not too late for him to demonstrate he can be that player.
Projection: 30 games, 5-8-13, plus-2
No comments:
Post a Comment