Caps Prospect

Capitals sign Axel Jonsson-Fjällby to a three-year, entry-level contract

The Washington Capitals just announced the signing of Axel Jonsson-Fjällby, a 20-year-old Swedish winger, to a three-year, $2.58 million contract, starting next season. The entry-level contract will pay Jonsson-Fjällby an annual average value of $860k at the NHL level and $70k in the minors. He will receive a signing bonus for every year of the contract that increases $5k per season, starting from $80k during the 2018-19 campaign.

According to CapFriendly, the contract was signed on May 1st. Jonsson-Fjallby will attend the 2018 Capitals Development Camp.

During the SHL playoffs, Capitals assistant GM Ross Mahoney went to Sweden to watch the speedy winger perform live. He had previously attended development camp during the summer twice.

Jonsson-Fjällby, drafted in the fifth round of the 2016 entry draft, had a breakout year both in his Swedish club Djurgården and on the international stage, making an impact both in the JWC and the Tre Kronor-team. Playing fourth line minutes in the regular season, Jonsson-Fjällby registered 16 points (7G, 9A).

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Axel Jonsson-Fjällby tallies assist, sits tied for second in SHL playoff points

Tuesday night, the wild tale of Axel Jonsson-Fjällby continued as his Djurgården kicked off their semifinal playoff series with Skellefteå. The speedy winger entered the third round of the Swedish playoffs tied for the league lead in goals and second in points.

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By Magnus Cadelin On April 3, 2018 0 Comment

Axel Jonsson-Fjällby’s shorthanded goal against USA helps push Sweden to WJC gold-medal game

In a hard-fought World Junior Championship semifinals game between Team Sweden and Team USA, special teams decided the game. But in a weird twist, it was the team a man down who did the clutch scoring.

With Team Sweden up 2-0 in the third period, Swedish forward Linus Lindstrom took a holding the stick penalty. Instead of a USA comeback, Sweden would ice the game.

51 seconds into the penalty kill, Swedish forward Oskar Steen scored shorthanded to make it 3-0. 38 seconds later, Capitals prospect Axel Jonsson-Fjällby tallied Sweden’s second shorty while killing that same minor penalty.

The unlikely SHGs would lead Sweden to victory.

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By Magnus Cadelin On January 4, 2018 0 Comment

Pheonix Copley leaves first start with Hershey Bears early

After being a part of the trade two summers ago that sent TJ Oshie to Washington, Pheonix Copley is back in the Caps organization. Monday, Copley was part of the deal that sent Kevin Shattenkirk to Washington.

Copley, who immediately became the organization’s third goaltender on the depth chart, made his first start for the Bears on Friday against the Syracuse Crunch. During the third period, Copley suffered what appeared to be a serious injury after stopping a shot in front of the net. He exited the game with help from his teammates.

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By Cara Bahniuk On March 3, 2017 0 Comment

Ilya Samsonov and Metallurg up 1-0 in first round of KHL playoffs

Caps goalie prospect Ilya Samsonov celebrated his 20th birthday Wednesday by helping Metallurg Magnitogorsk be victorious during Game 1 of the Gagarin Cup playoffs. The team beat Beijing-based Kunlun Red Star 4-2, with Samsonov stopping 26 of 28 shots for a .929 save percentage.

Samsonov, whose strong play this season won him a place in the starting lineup for the playoffs, saw reasonably light duty. But that’s not to say the game lacked for action.

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By Graham Dumas On February 23, 2017 0 Comment

Ilya Samsonov shuts out Traktor Chelyabinsk in final regular-season game (GIFs)

Capitals goalie prospect Ilya Samsonov blanked Traktor Chelyabinsk in a 1-0 shootout win on Friday night, closing out the regular season for Magnitogorsk. Samsonov made 31 saves over 65 minutes of regulation and overtime, and stoned two out of Traktor’s three shooters in the shootout.

Early in the game, Metallurg was off to a slow start. Samsonov possessed the necessary mix of skill and luck to prevent what easily could have been a 3-0 Traktor lead by the start of the second.

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By Graham Dumas On February 20, 2017 0 Comment

Breaking down two Ilya Samsonov goals against (GIFs)

Capitals goaltending prospect Ilya Samsonov stopped 36 of 39 shots in a 3-2 loss to Vityaz Podolsk on Wednesday. Although Samsonov was outstanding — he turned away 13 shots during the first period alone — two of the three goals he gave up show areas where the 19-year-old is still vulnerable: rebound-control, positioning, and protecting the top shelf.

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By Graham Dumas On January 26, 2017 0 Comment

A flailing Ilya Samsonov makes two insane saves in three seconds (GIFs)

Capitals top goaltending prospect, Ilya Samsonov, suffered a rare loss Wednesday night as Metallurg Magnitogorsk fell to Avangard Omsk 5-2. It was only the 19-year-old’s second regulation loss in 22 KHL games this season.

But that doesn’t mean Samsonov didn’t have his moments. Such as seven minutes into the first period where Ilya made a series of insane, sprawling saves. Diving back and forth across the crease in a crazed effort to deflect shot after shot, the Metallurg Magnitogorsk goalie (and the post) turned away three quality scoring chances at the same time.

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By Graham Dumas On January 19, 2017 0 Comment

Ilya Samsonov stops 47 of 49 shots in first KHL appearances since WJC (GIFs)

Capitals goalie prospect Ilya Samsonov had two strong showings over the weekend in KHL action, during which he kept Metallurg Magnitogorsk in the running against a pair of worthy opponents. Samsonov’s technical ability and athleticism were both on full display as he made 47 saves on 49 shots. These two appearances were his first since backstopping Russia to a bronze-medal finish in the World Junior Championships.

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By Graham Dumas On January 16, 2017 0 Comment

Ilya Samsonov played through an ‘awful’ groin pull during the bronze-medal game

It’s no secret that the strong play of Caps goaltender prospect Ilya Samsonov was a major factor in the Russian U20 team’s strong showing throughout the World Junior Championship. But against Sweden in the bronze-medal game, the 19-year-old Samsonov was especially motivated because of the team’s recent, emotional loss against the Americans.

Samsonov played like a man possessed, despite an excruciatingly painful injury he suffered in the second period.

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By Graham Dumas On January 7, 2017 0 Comment

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