Axel Jonsson-Fjallby finally made his NHL debut this season, but did he do enough to secure a spot going forward?
By the Numbers
| 23 | games played |
| 11.2 | time on ice per game |
| 2 | goals |
| 2 | assists |
| 47.3 | 5-on-5 shot-attempt percentage |
| 49.9 | 5-on-5 expected goal percentage |
| 53.9 | 5-on-5 goal percentage |
Visualization by HockeyViz
About this visualization: This series of charts made by Micah Blake McCurdy of hockeyviz.com shows lots of information for the player over the season. A short description of each chart:
- Most common teammates during 5-on-5
- Ice time per game, split up by game state
- 5-on-5 adjusted shot attempts by the team (black) and opponents (red)
- 5-on-5 adjusted shooting percentage by the team (black) and opponents (red)
- Individual scoring events by the player
- 5-on-5 adjusted offensive (black) and defensive (red) zone starts
Fan Happiness Survey
About this visualization: At three times during the season, RMNB shared an open survey with fans, asking the following question for each player:
On a scale from 1 to 5, how HAPPY are you to have this player on the team?
1 means VERY UNHAPPY TO HAVE THEM ON THE TEAM
2 means UNHAPPY
3 means NEITHER HAPPY NOR UNHAPPY
4 means HAPPY
5 means VERY HAPPY TO HAVE THEM ON THE TEAM
The numbers above show the average score for the player in each survey period.
Peter’s Take
After years on the farm plus some time in waiver limbo, Jonsson-Fjallby finally got to debut for the Washington Capitals this season. He looked good out there, in more than one way. The Caps outscored opponents 7 to 6 in AJF’s 239 minutes, so he was technically in the black, but if we go deeper, it isn’t so rosy.
Here are the skaters without whom Jonsson-Fjallby shared at least 60 minutes of ice time. The first number is Washington’s shot-attempt percentage (50 is even, higher is better) when that skater was out with AJF; the second number is when the skater was without AJF.
| Player | With AJF | Without AJF | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Garnet Hathaway | 48.3% | 50.2% | -1.9 |
| Dmitry Orlov | 49.9% | 52.0% | -2.2 |
| Nick Jensen | 45.8% | 49.2% | -3.4 |
| Lars Eller | 47.0% | 48.4% | -1.4 |
| Nic Dowd | 44.6% | 50.5% | -5.9 |
| Justin Schultz | 55.5% | 51.2% | +4.3 |
| Connor McMichael | 54.8% | 54.5% | +0.4 |
| Martin Fehervary | 51.4% | 46.9% | +4.4 |
| John Carlson | 45.0% | 49.0% | -4.1 |
The Capitals were on their heels more often when Jonsson-Fjallby was on the ice, which I find a bit surprising. Jonsson-Fjallby’s got a decent talent for shooting, generating attempts at about the same rate as Kuznetsov – just without the deadly finishing.
Call me an optimist, but I think there’s a viable NHL player here. The stuff that he lacks – the ability to win puck battles along the board and general puck movement through neutral when on offense – they can be taught through repetition by effective coaches. The stuff that can’t be taught – I think he might already have it.
Washington will need options as it enters next season on uncertain ground. With one year left on his entry-level contract, AJF will get another crack at the big show.
According to Orson Welles
AJF on RMNB
- The Capitals cut AJF from camp on October 3, but to return to Hershey he would have to pass though waivers.
- So on October 4, the Buffalo Sabres claimed AJF off waivers.
- Then October 10, the Buffalo Sabres put AJF on waivers.
- And finally on October 11, the Washington Capitals claimed AJF off waivers. The free market, folks.
- Racked by injury in November, the Caps called up AJF. I’m exhausted already.
- Finally, I guess, for now, on November 8, Jonsson-Fjallby made his NHL debut in a game against the freaking Buffalo Sabres, which Chris calls his former team in a cheeky way.
- On his week with Buffalo: “It was a roller coaster for sure. I wasn’t upset about coming back either.”
- AJF’s first NHL point came on a goal by Garnet Hathaway.
- On November 23, the Caps sent Axel back to Hershey.
- AJF’s second stint came in January, filling in for Daniel Sprong.
- Back in Hershey, AJF kicked off the Teddy Bear toss. He scored a hat trick that night. Also, horn-tooting time: Ian kicked ass on covering that whole night in Hershey.
- For a moment, AJF was considered a possible long-term replacement for Carl Hagelin. I suppose the Larsson trade ended that notion.
- On the ideas of March, AJF scored his first NHL goal.
- The flow!
wooooOOOOOoooOOOoooOOOOooo pic.twitter.com/9OYYJPKGdk
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) March 18, 2022
- Ian wrestled with why AJF and McMichael got benched so Brett Leason could play. We’ll talk about Leason in a few days.
Your Turn
Will we see AJF in Washington or the NHL level again, or do you think he’s shaping up to be an AHL lifer?
Read more: Japers Rink
