Lars Jonsson (ice hockey)

Infobox Ice Hockey Player


image_size =
position = Defence
shoots = Left
height_ft = 6
height_in = 2
weight_lb = 207
team = Brynäs IF
league = SEL
nationality = Sweden
birth_date = birth date and age|1982|1|2
birth_place = Borlänge, SWE
draft = 7th overall
draft_year = 2000
draft_team = Boston Bruins
career_start = 1999
former_teams = Leksands IF
Timrå IK
HV71
"NHL"
Philadelphia Flyers

Lars Jonsson (born January 2, 1982 in Borlänge, Sweden) is a Swedish professional ice hockey player, currently with Brynäs IF in Elitserien. He is an alternate captain for the team.

Playing career

Jonsson began playing for Leksands IF of Elitserien in 1999. Shortly after the season ended, he was drafted in the first round of the 2000 NHL Entry Draft by the Boston Bruins. Although the Bruins continually showed interest in him, attempting to sign him several times, they ran into issues with the NHL Collective Bargaining Agreement, which now states that European prospects will no longer remain indefinite property of the teams that draft them. As a result, the Bruins chose not to sign him and decided to instead receive the 37th overall pick in the 2006 Draft as compensation.

On the first day of free agency, Jonsson signed a one-year contract with the Philadelphia Flyers. He has been alternating between the Flyers and their AHL affiliate, the Philadelphia Phantoms. Although an ankle sprain caused him to miss the beginning of the 2006–07 season, he started with the Flyers, mainly on the powerplay, but he was sent down to play for the Phantoms after two games to adjust to North American hockey. He was called back up to the Flyers on November 21, 2006. He was later reassigned to the Phantoms on September 27, 2007. [cite web | title=Flyers Assign 18 to Phantoms | publisher=Philadelphiaflyers.com | url=http://flyers.nhl.com/team/app?articleid=338496&page=NewsPage&service=page | date=2007-09-27 | accessdate=2008-05-10]

Having spent two seasons in North America, Jonsson returned to the Swedish Elitserien by signing a two-year contract with Brynäs IF on May 15, 2008. [cite web | title=Brynäs har hittat sin försteback! | publisher=Brynäs IF | url=http://www.brynas.se/templates/BIF_NewsPage.aspx?id=6498 | date=2008-05-15 | accessdate=2008-05-15 | language = Swedish]

Awards

* Named Best Defenseman in TV-pucken in 1998.
* Bronze medal at the IIHF World U18 Championship in 2000.
* Promotion to Elitserien with Leksands IF in 2002.

Career statistics

International play

Played for Sweden in:

*2000 World Junior Ice Hockey U18 Championships (Bronze Medal)
*2002 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships

International statistics

ee also

*List of NHL players
*List of NHL seasons
*List of AHL seasons

References

External links

*eurohockey|13212|Lars Jonsson
*hockeydb|51174|Lars Jonsson
* [http://www.insidehockey.com/columns/86 Inside Hockey - Turning Promise into Performance - 10/08/06]