Fredrik Claesson

March 2020 – Claesson played a minor role in New Jersey as a bottom-pairing defenseman due to injuries. He expects to play in Binghamton if the AHL season resumes.  Chris Wassel 

February 2020 – Claesson has been traded from Carolina to New Jersey.  Jokke Nevalainen

June 2019 – Claesson did not get a qualifying offer from the Rangers which means he becomes an unrestricted free agent.  Jokke Nevalainen

July 2018 – The New York Rangers have signed Claesson to a one-year contract.  Jokke Nevalainen

June 2017 – Claesson looks to have taken the next step in 2016-17 and put the AHL behind him for good suiting up for 33 regular season games with unexpectedly impressive offensive results to the tune of three goals and eight assists. Initially being used relatively sparingly through the first 25 games playing about 10-12 minutes per game, Claesson saw a big uptick in ice time in the final eight games playing closer to 20 minutes a night. In the playoffs he drew into 14 of the teams 19 playoff games chipping in three assists and proving he can more than hold his own on the biggest stage in a high pressure situation. With the Senators likely to lose a defenseman to Vegas in the expansion draft, maybe even Claesson himself, he’s likely in line for full-time NHL duty come the fall. Brad Phillips

October 2016 – Claesson has been placed on waivers for the purpose of assigning him to the AHL. He’s proven to be a capable minor-league defenseman and has suited up for 16 career NHL games, finding the scoresheet twice with a pair of assists. At this point, though, his fantasy value is nil. Brad Phillips

March 2015 – Claesson is an NHL ready defenseman who should be next in line for the Senators if a player such as Patrick Wiercioch, Jared Cowen or Chris Phillips were to go down with an injury.  As a stable, stay at home defenseman, Claesson will not wow you with offensive ability but he is technically sound and does a good job moving the puck to more offensive teammates.  Although he does not shoot often, Claesson does have a decent shot and is capable of scoring goals from the point when his shot gets through. Most of his point numbers are going to come via assists, initiating the play from the defensive zone.  The main thing standing in the way of the Swedish defenseman becoming an NHL blueliner is the depth that the Senators have on the back-end.  His NHL future seems to be a second or third pairing defenseman who spends the majority of his time on the ice at even strength or on the penalty kill. Likely, Claesson will be paired with a more offensive partner and will be looked upon to be a rock defensively with the ability to make a good first pass out of the zone.  He is not an overly physical player, but does not shy away from contact and has dropped the gloves when warranted in the AHL.  In a fantasy sense, Claesson will chip in with the occasional assist, a good plus minus rating, some penalty minutes and decent hits and blocked shot numbers. Kevin LeBlanc