Jacob Josefson

{{Short description|Swedish ice hockey player (born 1991)}} {{good article}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2016}} {{Infobox ice hockey player | image = Djurgården-Färjestad 20190129 78.jpg | caption = Josefson with Djurgårdens IF in 2019 | birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1991|3|2}} | birth_place = Stockholm, Sweden | height_ft = 6 | height_in = 1 | weight_lb = 190 | position = Centre | shoots = Left | team = Djurgårdens IF | league = SHL | former_teams = New Jersey Devils<br />Buffalo Sabres | ntl_team = SWE | draft = 20th overall | draft_year = 2009 | draft_team = New Jersey Devils | career_start = 2007 | career_end = 2022 }}

'''Jacob Peter Josefson''' (born 2 March 1991) is a Swedish professional ice hockey player. A centre, he currently plays for Djurgårdens IF of the Swedish Hockey League (SHL).<ref name="SVTComeback">{{Cite news |title=Jacob Josefson om comebacken i Djurgården: ”Något jag bara måste göra” |last=Fleetwood |first=Ludvig |date=2025-08-22 |url=https://www.svt.se/sport/ishockey/jacob-josefson-om-comebacken-i-djurgarden-nagot-jag-bara-maste-gora |access-date=2025-08-23 |work=SVT Nyheter |last2=Larsson |first2=Mac |language=Swedish}}</ref> After Josefson began playing hockey at the age of five, he was acquired by Djurgården's youth organization at the age of ten, where he also began playing junior hockey in 2005. Josefson made his Elitserien debut on 28 February 2008, against Timrå IK, and became a regular member of Djurgården's senior team. His achievements in the Swedish Elitserien drew attention from NHL and he was selected in the first round of the 2009 NHL entry draft by the New Jersey Devils, 20th overall. Josefson played with Djurgården for an additional season, before signing with the Devils in May 2010 and played for them until 2017 when he left for the Buffalo Sabres. He returned to Djurgården in 2018 and played three seasons before being forced to retire due to injuries. In 2025, Josefson made a comeback to professional hockey playing once again with Djurgården.<ref name="SVTComeback" />

Josefson has represented Sweden at four International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) sanctioned junior events, winning the silver medal at the 2009 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships and the bronze medal at the 2010 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships. He also participated in the 2008 IIHF World U18 Championships, but only played three of Sweden's six games, and the 2009 IIHF World U18 Championships.

==Early life== Josefson was born on 2 March 1991, in Stockholm, Sweden, to Annika and Peter Josefson.<ref name="DN2008">{{cite news |title=Josefson het i tonårskedja |trans-title=Josefson hot in teenager line |author=Malin Fransson |newspaper=Dagens Nyheter |date=18 September 2008 |url=https://www.dn.se/sport/ishockey/josefson-het-i-tonarskedja/ |language=Swedish |access-date=8 September 2011}}</ref> He is the youngest of three brothers.<ref name="SF">{{cite web |url=http://www.svenskafans.com/nhl/newjersey/315146.aspx |title=SvenskaFans träffar Jacob Josefson: "Att det blev Devils är jag riktigt glad över!" |trans-title=SvenskaFans meets Jacob Josefson: "I am really glad that it was the Devils!" |author=Rasid Becirovic |date=16 September 2009 |work=svenskafans.com |language=Swedish |access-date=8 September 2011}}</ref><ref name="nhldetail">{{cite web |title=Draft Prospect Card – 2009 |url=http://www.nhl.com/ice/draftprospectdetail.htm?dpid=5372 |work=nhl.com |publisher=NHL |access-date=4 May 2011 }}</ref> At the age of two, Josefson began skating and joined IK Göta at the age of five. His older brothers had played for the same club.<ref name="nhldetail" /> He played with Hammarby IF for a year<ref name="Plantskola">{{cite news |first=Per |last=Brandt |title=Plantskolan som bär frukt |trans-title=Plant nursery that bears fruit |url=https://www.dn.se/sport/ishockey/plantskolan-som-bar-frukt/ |newspaper=Dagens Nyheter |date=4 February 2008 |language=Swedish |access-date=8 September 2011}}</ref> before he was acquired by Djurgårdens IF at the age of ten,<ref name="DN2008" /> playing for the 1991 team.<ref>{{cite web |title=Djurgården Hockey Team 91 – Spelartrupp 2002/2003 |url=http://hem.passagen.se/difteam91/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021009111202/http://hem.passagen.se/difteam91/Spelartrupp.htm |archive-date=9 October 2002 |language=Swedish |url-status=usurped |access-date=20 August 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Hästenwännernas Cup i Norrköping – 19/10-2002 |url=http://hem.passagen.se/difteam91/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030205180655/http://hem.passagen.se/difteam91/Hasten2.htm |archive-date= 5 February 2003 |language=Swedish |access-date=20 August 2009 |url-status=usurped }}</ref> He also played football until the age of 13, before deciding to focus entirely on hockey.<ref name="SF" /> Josefson attended high school at Vittra Gymnasium in Sweden while playing for Djurgården.<ref name="Plantskola" />

==Playing career== ===Djurgårdens IF=== thumb|left|Josefson in 2009Josefson started to play junior hockey in 2005 for Djurgården's under-18 team.<ref>{{cite web |last=Hellefors |first=Patrick |title=J18: Seger mot AIK |trans-title=J18: Victory against AIK |url=http://difhockey.se/nyhet.php?news=3206 |date=16 December 2005 |work=difhockey.se |publisher=Djurgårdens IF Hockey |language=Swedish |access-date=4 May 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721172632/http://difhockey.se/nyhet.php?news=3206 |archive-date=21 July 2011 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> During the 2006–07 season, he helped Djurgården's under-16 team to win the Swedish championship.<ref>{{cite web |last=Dammbro |first=Jerker |title=Djurgården U16-lag vann SM-guld! |trans-title=Djurgården U16-team won the Swedish championship! |url=http://difhockey.se/nyhet.php?news=4009 |date=25 March 2007 |work=difhockey.se |publisher=Djurgårdens IF Hockey |language=Swedish |access-date=4 May 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721172024/http://difhockey.se/nyhet.php?news=4009 |archive-date=21 July 2011 |df=dmy-all }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Hellefors |first=Patrick |title=SM-guld till Djurgårdens 91:or! |trans-title=Swedish championship for Djurgården's 91's |url=http://difhockey.se/nyhet.php?news=4010 |date=25 March 2007 |work=difhockey.se |publisher=Djurgårdens IF Hockey |language=Swedish |access-date=4 May 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721172034/http://difhockey.se/nyhet.php?news=4010 |archive-date=21 July 2011 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> The 2007–08 season began with the national junior hockey tournament TV-pucken. Josefson's team Stockholm/Vit reached the final which ended with a 2–1 defeat to Småland.<ref>{{cite web |title=Tv-pucken finals 1959–2011 |url=http://www.swehockey.se/ImageVault/Images/id_721/scope_0/ImageVaultHandler.aspx |work=swehockey.se |publisher=Swedish Ice Hockey Association |access-date=18 September 2012}}</ref> He made his Elitserien debut on 28 February 2008, against Timrå IK.<ref name="DN2008" /><ref>{{cite web |last=Uhlin |first=Daniel |title=Djurgården kryssar vidare |trans-title=Djurgården cruise on |url=http://difhockey.se/nyhet.php?news=4562 |date=28 February 2008 |work=difhockey.se |publisher=Djurgårdens IF Hockey |language=Swedish |access-date=4 May 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120714095722/http://difhockey.se/nyhet.php?news=4562 |archive-date=14 July 2012 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> This proved to be the only appearance Josefson would make in the Elitserien during the 2007–08 season. Josefson played for the J20-team during most of the season scoring 14 goals and 31 points. His team reached the playoffs, but were defeated by Brynäs IF in the semi-finals.<ref>{{cite web |last=Dammbro |first=Jerker |title=Säsongen över för J20-laget |trans-title=The season is over for the J20-team |url=http://difhockey.se/nyhet.php?news=4667 |date=28 March 2008 |work=difhockey.se |publisher=Djurgårdens IF Hockey |language=Swedish |access-date=4 May 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721172052/http://difhockey.se/nyhet.php?news=4667 |archive-date=21 July 2011 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> After the loss, he joined the under-18 team during the playoffs where he helped the team defeat Färjestads BK to capture the Swedish championship.<ref>{{cite web|title=Färjestads BK – Djurgårdens IF |url=http://stats.swehockey.se/online/40/97521/97521021/97521021_frame_default.htm |date=30 March 2008 |work=swehockey.se |publisher=Swedish Ice Hockey Association |access-date=4 May 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110612081710/http://stats.swehockey.se/online/40/97521/97521021/97521021_frame_default.htm |archive-date=12 June 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

He signed a two-year contract with Djurgården in May 2008.<ref name="DIFcontract">{{cite web |last=Dammbro |first=Jerker |title=Figren och Josefson klara för DIF |trans-title=Figren and Josefson signed for DIF |url=http://difhockey.se/nyhet.php?news=4707 |date=8 May 2008 |work=difhockey.se |publisher=Djurgårdens IF Hockey |language=Swedish |access-date=4 May 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721172102/http://difhockey.se/nyhet.php?news=4707 |archive-date=21 July 2011 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> The club's initial plan for Josefson was to move him up to the senior team when regular players were out of the lineup with illness or injuries, while his usual team would be the J20-team.<ref name="DIFcontract" /> He scored his first goal in Elitserien on 23 September in his third game, a 4–1 win against Brynäs IF.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.iihf.com/home-of-hockey/news/news-singleview/article/young-guns-making-noise.html |title=Young guns making noise |first=Risto |last=Pakarinen |date=28 September 2009 |access-date=4 May 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604184845/http://www.iihf.com/home-of-hockey/news/news-singleview/article/young-guns-making-noise.html |archive-date=4 June 2011 |work=IIHF |df=dmy-all }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Alexanderson |first=Thomas |title=Jacob gjorde drömmålet |trans-title=Jacob scored the dream goal |url=http://difhockey.se/nyhet.php?news=4941 |date=23 September 2008 |work=difhockey.se |publisher=Djurgårdens IF Hockey |language=Swedish |access-date=4 May 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721172145/http://difhockey.se/nyhet.php?news=4941 |archive-date=21 July 2011 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> Ultimately, Josefson played almost every game of the regular season, and usually played along with Carl Gustafsson and Henrik Eriksson on the 4th line.<ref name="DN2008" /><ref name="fourthline">{{cite web |url=http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=394807 |title=Josefson's Draft stock continues to rise |author=Shawn P. Roarke |date=28 November 2008 |work=nhl.com |publisher=NHL |access-date=4 May 2011 }}</ref> At the end of the season, Josefson had scored 5 goals and 16 points, a record for players 18 or younger playing with the senior team.<ref>{{cite web |last=Dammbro |first=Jerker |title=Lång säsong med fram- och motgång |trans-title=Long season with success and setbacks |url=http://difhockey.se/nyhet.php?news=5764 |date=7 May 2009 |work=difhockey.se |publisher=Djurgårdens IF Hockey |language=Swedish |access-date=4 May 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721172203/http://difhockey.se/nyhet.php?news=5764 |archive-date=21 July 2011 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> Josefson was ranked third in the midterm rankings among European skaters by the NHL Central Scouting Bureau for the 2009 NHL entry draft.<ref name="nhldetail" /> He was selected in the first round of the 2009 NHL draft by the New Jersey Devils, 20th overall.<ref name="starledger">{{cite news |first=Rich |last=Chere |title=New Jersey Devils trade up to pick Swedish center Jacob Josefson 20th in NHL entry draft |url=https://www.nj.com/devils/index.ssf/2009/06/new_jersey_devils_trade_up_to.html |work=nj.com |publisher=The Star-Ledger |date=26 June 2009 |access-date=4 May 2011}}</ref> Josefson was also drafted in the third round, 61st overall, in the 2009 KHL Junior Draft by SKA Saint Petersburg.<ref>{{cite news |title=Pääjärvi-Svensson förste svensk i KHL-draften |trans-title=Pääjärvi-Svensson first Swede in the KHL draft |first=Stefan |last=Persson |newspaper=Aftonbladet |date=1 June 2009 |url=http://www.aftonbladet.se/sportbladet/hockey/internationellt/khl/article5280301.ab |language=Swedish |access-date=4 May 2011}}</ref> He participated at the Devils rookie camp in July 2009.<ref>{{cite news |title=Swedish prospects Mattias Tedenby and Jacob Josefson spending plenty of time together at NJ Devils rookie camp |first=Matt |last=Gelb |url=https://www.nj.com/devils/index.ssf/2009/07/swedish_prospects_mattias_tede.html |work=nj.com |publisher=The Star-Ledger |date=15 July 2009 |access-date=4 May 2011 }}</ref> He has been compared with centres Nicklas Bäckström and John Madden.<ref name="fourthline" /><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/hockey/nhl/2009-06-26-4066941196_x.htm |title=Devils move up in draft, select C Jacob Josefson |author=Tom Canavan |date=26 June 2009 |work=USA Today |access-date=4 May 2011}}</ref>

At the beginning of the 2009–10 season, Djurgården participated in the Nordic Trophy pre-season tournament. In the second game, Josefson scored a hat trick and added two assists against the Malmö Redhawks.<ref>{{cite web |title=Djurgården krossade Malmö |trans-title=Djurgården crushed Malmö |url=https://www.difhockey.se/match.php?id=2390 |date=14 August 2009 |work=difhockey.se |publisher=Djurgårdens IF Hockey |access-date=18 September 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121011044750/http://difhockey.se/match.php?id=2390 |archive-date=11 October 2012 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> At the end of the group stage, Josefson was the scoring leader with five goals and seven points.<ref>{{cite web|title=Stats 2009 |url=http://www.nordictrophy.com/stats.php |work=nordictrophy.com |publisher=Nordic Trophy |access-date=22 August 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110727192615/http://www.nordictrophy.com/stats.php |archive-date= 27 July 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref> He scored his first points for the regular season, three assists, in the Elitserien premiere away against HV71.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.difhockey.se/match.php?id=2334 |title=HV71 – Djurgårdens IF 7–6 |date=24 September 2009 |work=difhockey.se |publisher=Djurgårdens IF Hockey |access-date=18 September 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121011045535/http://difhockey.se/match.php?id=2334 |archive-date=11 October 2012 }}</ref> Djurgården lost the game 7–6, but on 20 October, Josefson would get his revenge when he scored the game-winning goal in the 3–2 victory over HV71 20. This was also his first goal of the regular season.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://svt.se/2.19851/1.1737149/hv-slarv_baddade_for_dif-seger |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121006182147/http://www.svt.se/2.19851/1.1737149/hv-slarv_baddade_for_dif-seger |archive-date=6 October 2012 |title=HV-slarv bäddade för Dif-seger |trans-title=HV-carelessness paved the way for Dif victory |date=20 October 2009 |work=svt.se |publisher=Sveriges Television |language=Swedish |access-date=4 May 2011}}</ref> Josefson missed six Elitserien games due to the World Junior Hockey Championship, but was back in the roster against Timrå IK on 9 January.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.difhockey.se/artikel/30/ |title=Laguppställningen mot Timrå |trans-title=Lineup against Timrå |date=9 January 2010 |work=difhockey.se |publisher=Djurgårdens IF Hockey |access-date=17 November 2014}}</ref> He recorded an assist against Rögle BK on 30 January, which was his 17th point of the season, putting him ahead of last season's total.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://stats.swehockey.se/online/42/90001/90001268/90001268_frame_default.htm |title=Djurgårdens IF – Rögle BK |date=30 January 2010 |work=swehockey.se |publisher=Swedish Ice Hockey Association |access-date=4 May 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110612043754/http://stats.swehockey.se/online/42/90001/90001268/90001268_frame_default.htm |archive-date=12 June 2011 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> At the end of the regular season, Josefson had scored 8 goals and 20 points in 43 games. The 2009–10 playoffs were Josefson's first Elitserien playoffs, and he played almost every game missing the first two semifinal games against Linköpings HC due to illness.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.hockeyligan.se/index.php?article=5070 |title=Nedsläpp: Josefson borta första semin |trans-title=Face-off: Josefson misses first semifinal |last=Weichselbraun |first=Johan |date=1 April 2010 |work=hockeyligan.se |publisher=Svenska Hockeyligan AB |language=Swedish |access-date=4 May 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110705112852/http://hockeyligan.se/index.php?article=5070 |archive-date=5 July 2011 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hockeysverige.se/article/9645739/det-ar-sjukt-frustrerande |title=Det är sjukt frustrerande |trans-title=It is really frustrating |last=Bodin |first=Uffe |date=5 April 2010 |work=hockeysverige.se |language=Swedish |access-date=8 September 2011}}</ref> Djurgården lost the finals 4–2 to HV71. Josefson re-signed with Djurgården for another year on 27 April.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.svd.se/sport/djurgardenspelare-forlanger-kontrakt_4624127.svd |title=Djurgårdenspelare förlänger kontrakt |trans-title=Djurgården players extend contracts |date=27 April 2010 |newspaper=Svenska Dagbladet |language=Swedish |access-date=8 September 2011}}</ref> Despite this and an oral guarantee the club received from Josefson's agent Peter Wallén that Josefson would stay,<ref>{{cite web|last=Karlsson|first=Gustav|title=DIF:s klubbdirektör besviken på agenten: "Vi fick en muntlig garanti" |trans-title=DIF's general manager disappointed at the agent: "We got an oral guarantee" |url=http://www.hockeykanalen.se/1.1639080|work=hockeykanalen.se|publisher=TV4 Group|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120301132010/http://www.hockeykanalen.se/1.1639080|archive-date=1 March 2012|access-date=4 May 2011|language=Swedish}}</ref> Josefson signed with the New Jersey Devils on 14 May 2010.<ref>{{cite web|title=Devils sign top picks Tedenby, Josefson|url=https://devils.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=529167|work=devils.nhl.com|publisher=New Jersey Devils|access-date=4 May 2011}}</ref>

===New Jersey Devils=== [[File:Jacob Josefson - New Jersey Devils.jpg|thumb|right|Josefson with the New Jersey Devils in September 2014]] Josefson participated in the pre-season camp with the Devils in September,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nj.com/devils/index.ssf/2010/09/jacob_josefson_scores_goal_aga.html|title=Jacob Josefson scores goal against Martin Brodeur in Devils' scrimmage|last=Chere|first=Rich|work=nj.com|publisher=The Star-Ledger|date=20 September 2010|access-date=10 May 2011}}</ref> but was assigned to their American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Albany Devils after the camp.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nj.com/devils/index.ssf/2010/10/devils_assign_corrente_josefso.html|title=Devils assign Corrente, Josefson, Tedenby, McKenna to Albany (AHL)|last=Chere|first=Rich|work=nj.com|publisher=The Star-Ledger|date=5 October 2010|access-date=10 May 2011}}</ref> Josefson was called up to the Devils on 14 October 2010, and made his NHL debut the next day, in a 3–2 victory against Colorado Avalanche at the Prudential Center.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://hockey.expressen.se/nhl/1.2174655/jacob-josefson-far-chansen-i-nhl|title=Jacob Josefson får chansen i NHL|trans-title=Jacob Josefson gets the chance in the NHL|last=Ek|first=Mattias|date=14 October 2010|work=hockey.expressen.se|publisher=Expressen|language=Swedish|access-date=7 May 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721162252/http://hockey.expressen.se/nhl/1.2174655/jacob-josefson-far-chansen-i-nhl|archive-date=21 July 2011|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/hockey/nhl/gameflash/2010/10/15/27361_recap.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101019055007/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/hockey/nhl/gameflash/2010/10/15/27361_recap.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=19 October 2010|title=Anderson makes 41 saves, Avs beat Devils 3–2|date=15 October 2010|agency=AP|magazine=Sports Illustrated|access-date=7 May 2011}}</ref> Josefson was slashed on his left hand and later fell on the same hand during the game against San Jose Sharks on 27 October,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nj.com/devils/index.ssf/2010/10/devils_send_jacob_josefson_hom.html|title=Devils send Jacob Josefson home with hand injury; Jason Arnott's ankle OK|last=Chere|first=Rich|date=30 October 2010|work=nj.com|publisher=The Star-Ledger|access-date=8 May 2011}}</ref> this caused a ligament in his thumb to tear, and forced him to undergo surgery.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nj.com/devils/index.ssf/2011/01/brian_rolston_im_glad_to_be_ba.html|title=Brian Rolston: 'I'm glad to be back with the Devils'|last=Chere|first=Rich|work=nj.com|publisher=The Star-Ledger|date=4 January 2011|access-date=8 May 2011}}</ref> At last, Josefson returned from his injury on 7 January 2011, when the Albany Devils played against the Charlotte Checkers.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hockeysverige.se/article/11202451/jacob-josefson-producerade-i-comebacken|title=Jacob Josefson producerade i comebacken|trans-title=Jacob Josefson produced in the comeback|last=Bodin|first=Uffe|date=8 January 2011|work=hockeysverige.se|language=Swedish|access-date=8 May 2011}}</ref> Josefson scored his first NHL goal against Al Montoya of the New York Islanders on 12 March 2011.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nj.com/devils/index.ssf/2011/03/devils_find_a_dynamic_new_line.html|title=Devils find a dynamic new line as Jacob Josefson gets first NHL goal|last=Chere|first=Rich|work=nj.com|publisher=The Star-Ledger|date=12 March 2011|access-date=8 May 2011}}</ref> The Devils failed to reach the playoffs and Josefson ended up with three goals and ten points in 28 regular season games.

In the fifth game of the 2011–12 season, Josefson broke his right clavicle after crashing shoulder first into the boards.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nj.com/devils/index.ssf/2011/10/loss_of_jacob_josefson_with_br.html|title=Loss of Jacob Josefson with broken clavicle puts Devils in a bind|last=Chere|first=Rich|date=21 October 2011|publisher=The Star-Ledger|access-date=1 November 2011}}</ref> He underwent surgery the following day on 22 October 2011, and was expected to be sidelined for three or four months.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nj.com/devils/index.ssf/2011/10/devils_jacob_josefson_out_3-4.html|title=Devils' Jacob Josefson out 3–4 months after surgery to repair broken clavicle|last=Chere|first=Rich|date=22 October 2011|publisher=The Star-Ledger|access-date=1 November 2011}}</ref> On 3 April 2012 in a game against the Islanders, Josefson bumped awkwardly into Jay Pandolfo resulting in a broken left wrist. He returned to the lineup on 21 May 2012 in the fourth game of the Eastern Conference Finals against Rangers<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.svd.se/sport/lyckad-comeback-for-josefson_7218703.svd|title=Lyckad comeback för Josefson|trans-title=Successful comeback for Josefson|date=22 May 2012|publisher=Svenska Dagbladet|access-date=18 September 2012}}</ref> and played a total of six games in the 2012 Stanley Cup playoffs, scoring one point.

===Buffalo Sabres=== After seven seasons within the Devils organization, Josefson left as a free agent and signed a one-year, $700,000 contract with the Buffalo Sabres on 1 July 2017.<ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.nhl.com/sabres/news/sabres-sign-josefson-to-1-year-deal/c-290269498 | title = Sabres sign Josefson to one-year contract | publisher = Buffalo Sabres | date = 2017-07-01 | access-date = 2017-07-01}}</ref> In the 2017–18 season, Josefson was limited to just 39 games through various injuries to contribute with just 2 goals and 4 points for the bottom placed Sabres.

===Return to Djurgården=== Having played 8 successive seasons in the NHL amassing 315 games, Josefson as an impending free agent from the Sabres opted to return to his original club in Sweden, Djurgårdens IF, agreeing to a multi-year contract through 2022 on 27 April 2018.<ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.difhockey.se/artikel/u7rbajghz-1lead/harligt-att-vara-tillbaka | title = Lovely to be back | publisher = Djurgårdens IF | date = 2018-04-27 | access-date = 2018-04-27 | language = Swedish}}</ref> While struggling for the puck against Frölunda player Joel Lundqvist on 15 November, Josefson was cut by Lundqvist's skate which tore his urethra.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Norberg |first1=Linus |title=Jacob Josefson: "Värsta dagarna i mitt liv" |trans-title=Jacob Josefson: "Worst days of my life" |url=https://www.aftonbladet.se/sportbladet/hockey/a/A21Rbr/jacob-josefson-varsta-dagarna-i-mitt-liv |access-date=28 April 2019 |work=Aftonbladet |language=Swedish |date=13 December 2018}}</ref> Josefson missed 8 games due to his injury and he returned to play in a home game on 26 December against HV71.<ref>{{cite news |title=Djurgården nollat i Josefsons comeback |trans-title=Djurgården scored zero in Josefson's comeback |url=https://www.sydsvenskan.se/2018-12-26/djurgarden-nollat-i-josefsons-comeback |access-date=28 April 2019 |work=Sydsvenskan |agency=TT |language=Swedish |date=26 December 2018}}</ref> Josefson ended the 2018–19 season regular season with 12 goals and 35 points. He played in 15 of 19 playoff games, with Djurgården facing Frölunda in the finals and ultimately lost in six games. He was awarded the Guldhjälmen as the most valuable player as decided by the players in the league.<ref>{{cite news |title=Guldhjälmen till Jacob Josefson |url=https://www.gp.se/sport/guldhj%C3%A4lmen-till-jacob-josefson-1.14050180 |access-date=17 March 2019 |publisher=Göteborgs-Posten |date=17 March 2019}}</ref>

Josefson suffered a foot injury early October 2019 kept him out of play for three months in the 2019–20 SHL season and only played 30 of the 52 regular season games, scoring 5 goals and 16 points.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Djurgårdens besked om båda stjärnorna |last=Sunnervik |first=Linus |url=https://www.expressen.se/sport/hockey/shl/josefsons-besked-valdigt-spelsugen/ |access-date=2025-08-26 |work=Expressen |language=Swedish}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=”Om något dyker upp får vi ta ställning till det då” |last=Friberg |first=Anna |date=2020-02-02 |url=https://www.expressen.se/sport/hockey/shl/om-nagot-dyker-upp-far-vi-ta-stallning-till-det-da/ |access-date=2025-08-26 |work=Expressen |language=Swedish}}</ref>

After several concussions, the last one occurring during a game against Rögle BK on 20 January 2021,<ref>{{Cite news |title=Djurgårdens tunga besked |last=Ränkeskog |first=Gustaf |date=2021-01-20 |url=https://www.aftonbladet.se/sportbladet/hockey/a/869qkW/djurgardens-tunga-besked |access-date=2025-08-22 |work=Aftonbladet |language=Swedish}}</ref> Josefson was forced into rehabilitation in the spring of 2021.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Beskedet: Tvingas ge upp säsongen |last=Johannesson |first=Jacob |date=2021-03-03 |url=https://www.expressen.se/sport/hockey/shl/beskedet-missar-resten-av-sasongen/ |access-date=2025-08-26 |work=Expressen |language=Swedish}}</ref> Having successfully gone through the rehabilitation Josefson recovered in time for the pre-season in the summer of 2021. During a pre-season game against Linköping HC the symptoms returned.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Mardrömsbeskedet inför SHL-premiären |last=Landén |first=Petter |date=2021-09-01 |url=https://www.expressen.se/sport/hockey/shl/mardromsbeskedet-infor-shl-premiaren/ |work=Expressen |language=Swedish}}</ref> A prolonged absence from ice hockey was announced and Josefson ultimately missed the entirety of the 2021–22 SHL season. At the end of the season, he announced his retirement from professional ice hockey.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Djurgårdens kapten Jacob Josefson avslutar karriären |last=Runsten |first=Viktor |date=2022-08-06 |url=https://www.svt.se/sport/ishockey/djurgardskaptenen-jacob-josefson-avslutar-karriaren |access-date=2025-08-22 |work=SVT Nyheter |language=Swedish}}</ref> Four years after his last game, Josefson returned to professional hockey on 22 August 2025 in a pre-season game against Almtuna IS.<ref name="SVTComeback" /> He scored his first SHL goal since his comeback on 27 September against Timrå IK, which also was his first SHL goal since 16 January 2021.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Josefsons glädje efter nästan fem år |last=Mattias |first=Karlsson |date=2025-09-27 |url=https://www.aftonbladet.se/sportbladet/hockey/a/bmRweA/jacob-josefson-gjorde-sitt-forsta-mal-i-djurgarden-pa-nastan-fem-ar |access-date=2025-09-27 |work=Aftonbladet |language=Swedish}}</ref>

==International play== {{MedalTableTop|name= no | JacobJosefssonAction.JPG|190px}} {{MedalCountry|{{SWE}}}} {{MedalSport|Ice hockey}} {{MedalCompetition|World Junior Championships}} {{MedalSilver|2009 Canada|}} {{MedalBronze|2010 Canada|}} {{MedalBottom}}

Josefson played in his first IIHF sanctioned tournament when he was part of Sweden's team at the 2008 IIHF World U18 Championships. He managed to score a hat-trick in the first game against Belarus.<ref>{{cite web |title=GAME SUMMARY |url=https://stats.iihf.com/Hydra/148/IHM148B02_74_5_0.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210513203835/http://reports.iihf.hockey/Hydra/148/IHM148B02_74_5_0.pdf |url-status=live |archive-date=13 May 2021 |date=13 April 2008 |work=IIHF |access-date=4 May 2011 }}</ref> He left the team in the morning before the fourth game due to an accident in which his father and uncle had been exposed to carbon monoxide poisoning.<ref>{{cite news|last=Nilsson|first=Petter|title=Förväntningarna är höga på Djurgårdstalangen|trans-title=Expectations are high on the Djurgården talent|url=https://www.dn.se/sport/ishockey/forvantningarna-ar-hoga-pa-djurgardstalangen/|access-date=8 September 2011|newspaper=Dagens Nyheter|date=26 September 2009|language=Swedish}}</ref> He made his second appearance at the U18 Championship the following year, at the 2009 IIHF World U18 Championships, where he also took the role as alternate captain.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://swehockey.se/ImageVault/Images/id_2219/ImageVaultHandler.aspx|title=SWEDEN TEAM 18 PRE CAMP WITH EXHIBITION GAMES AND 2009 IIHF U18 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP, USA DURING APRIL 1–20 2009|work=swehockey.se|publisher=Swedish Ice Hockey Association|access-date=11 December 2011}}</ref> He managed to score three goals and seven points in six games. Josefson was a part of Sweden's national junior team at the 2009 World Junior Championships. He played in all of Sweden's six games but did not score any points.<ref name="starledger" /> A few months later he yet again played for Sweden in the U18 Championship but could not help his team go further than fifth place in the tournament.<ref>{{cite web |last=Aykroyd |first=Lucas |title=Swedes fifth, Slovaks survive |url=http://www.iihf.com/channels0809/wm18/news/news-singleview/article/slovakia-avoids-relegation.html |date=19 April 2009 |access-date=4 May 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604162715/http://www.iihf.com/channels0809/wm18/news/news-singleview/article/slovakia-avoids-relegation.html |archive-date=4 June 2011 |work=IIHF |df=dmy-all }}</ref>

Josefson participated in the World Junior Championship for the second time when he was named for Team Sweden by head coach Pär Mårts for the 2010 World Junior Championships, along with fellow Djurgården teammates Daniel Brodin and Marcus Krüger.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.swehockey.se/ImageVault/Images/id_4883/ImageVaultHandler.aspx |title=PRELIMINARY TEAM SWEDEN U20 ROSTER |date=30 November 2009 |work=swehockey.se |publisher=Swedish Ice Hockey Association |access-date=4 May 2011}}</ref> He scored his first goal of the tournament and the first goal of the game against Austria in the preliminary rounds.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.tsn.ca/world_jrs/story/?id=303735 |title=WJHC: Larsson, Rodin score two each as Sweden beats Austria |date=27 December 2009 |work=tsn.ca |publisher=The Sports Network |access-date=4 May 2011}}</ref> He scored two additional goals in Sweden's 7–1 victory over Finland in the last game of the preliminary rounds.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.tsn.ca/world_jrs/story/?id=304212 |title=WJHC: Sweden beats Finland to advance to semifinals |date=31 December 2009 |work=tsn.ca |publisher=The Sports Network |access-date=4 May 2011}}</ref> Josefson, who also had three assists in the tournament, had six points in total.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://stats.iihf.com/Hydra/205/IHM2050SWE_83_6_0.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210506105610/http://reports.iihf.hockey/Hydra/205/IHM2050SWE_83_6_0.pdf |url-status=live |archive-date=6 May 2021 |title=Player statistics by team – Sweden |date=6 January 2010 |work=IIHF |access-date=4 May 2011 }}</ref>

Josefson was named in the roster for the 2019 Karjala Tournament and played two games with no points scored.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Ulriksson |first1=Josefin |title=Svenska debutanternas kväll i Karjala Tournament |url=https://sverigesradio.se/sida/artikel.aspx?programid=179&artikel=7086809 |access-date=17 March 2019 |publisher=Sveriges radio |date=8 November 2018}}</ref>

==Career statistics== ===Regular season and playoffs=== {| border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" style="text-align:center; width:60em" |- bgcolor="#e0e0e0" ! colspan="3" bgcolor="#ffffff" | ! rowspan="100" bgcolor="#ffffff" | ! colspan="5" | Regular season ! rowspan="100" bgcolor="#ffffff" | ! colspan="5" | Playoffs |- bgcolor="#e0e0e0" ! Season ! Team ! League ! GP ! G ! A ! Pts ! PIM ! GP ! G ! A ! Pts ! PIM |- | 2005–06 | Djurgårdens IF | J18 | 1||0||1||1||0 | —||—||—||—||— |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 2005–06 | Djurgårdens IF | J18 Allsv | 4||1||0||1||0 | —||—||—||—||— |- | 2006–07 | Djurgårdens IF | J18 | 14||10||12||22||20 | —||—||—||—||— |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 2006–07 | Djurgårdens IF | J18 Allsv | 11||4||5||9||2 | 3||0||0||0||0 |- | 2007–08 | Djurgårdens IF | J18 | 3||1||1||2||0 | —||—||—||—||— |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 2007–08 | Djurgårdens IF | J18 Allsv | 1||0||1||1||12 | 6||0||6||6||4 |- | 2007–08 | Djurgårdens IF | J20 | 34||14||17||31||22 | 7||2||3||5||8 |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 2007–08 | Djurgårdens IF | SEL | 1||0||0||0||0 | —||—||—||—||— |- | 2008–09 | Djurgårdens IF | J18 Allsv | —||—||—||—||— | 1||0||0||0||0 |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 2008–09 | Djurgårdens IF | J20 | 3||0||1||1||6 | 6||1||3||4||4 |- | 2008–09 | Djurgårdens IF | SEL | 50||5||11||16||14 | —||—||—||—||— |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 2009–10 | Djurgårdens IF | SEL | 43||8||12||20||20 | 14||3||2||5||4 |- | 2010–11 | Albany Devils | AHL | 18||3||9||12||4 | —||—||—||—||— |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 2010–11 | New Jersey Devils | NHL | 28||3||7||10||6 | —||—||—||—||— |- | 2011–12 | New Jersey Devils | NHL | 41||2||7||9||6 | 6||0||1||1||0 |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 2011–12 | Albany Devils | AHL | 4||2||1||3||2 | —||—||—||—||— |- | 2012–13 | Albany Devils | AHL | 38||10||15||25||29 | —||—||—||—||— |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 2012–13 | New Jersey Devils | NHL | 22||1||2||3||2 | —||—||—||—||— |- | 2013–14 | New Jersey Devils | NHL | 27||1||2||3||4 | —||—||—||—||— |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 2014–15 | New Jersey Devils | NHL | 62||6||5||11||24 | —||—||—||—||— |- | 2015–16 | New Jersey Devils | NHL | 58||4||10||14||20 | —||—||—||—||— |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 2016–17 | New Jersey Devils | NHL | 38||1||9||10||16 | —||—||—||—||— |- | 2017–18 | Buffalo Sabres | NHL | 39||2||2||4||6 | —||—||—||—||— |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 2018–19 | Djurgårdens IF | SHL | 40||12||23||35||32 | 15||1||6||7||6 |- | 2019–20 | Djurgårdens IF | SHL | 30||5||11||16||6 | —||—||—||—||— |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 2020–21 | Djurgårdens IF | SHL | 27||7||7||14||24 | —||—||—||—||— |- bgcolor="#e0e0e0" ! colspan="3" | SHL totals ! 191!!37!!64!!101!!96 ! 29!!4!!8!!12!!10 |- bgcolor="#e0e0e0" ! colspan="3" | NHL totals ! 315!!20!!44!!64!!84 ! 6!!0!!1!!1!!0 |}

===International=== {| border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" ID="Table3" style="text-align:center; width:40em" |- ALIGN="center" bgcolor="#e0e0e0" ! Year ! Team ! Event ! Result ! rowspan="99" bgcolor="#ffffff" | ! GP ! G ! A ! Pts ! PIM |- | 2008 | Sweden | WJC18 | 4th | 3||4||1||5||0 |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 2009 | Sweden | WJC | {{silver2}} | 6||0||0||0||2 |- | 2009 | Sweden | WJC18 | 5th | 6||3||4||7||2 |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 2010 | Sweden | WJC | {{bronze3}} | 6||3||3||6||4 |- | 2015 | Sweden | WC | 5th | 8||2||2||4||2 |- bgcolor="#e0e0e0" ! colspan="4" | Junior totals ! 21!!10!!8!!18!!26 |- bgcolor="#e0e0e0" ! colspan="4" | Senior totals ! 8!!2!!2!!4!!2 |}

==References== {{Reflist|30em}}

==External links== * {{Ice hockey stats}}

{{s-start}} {{s-ach}} {{succession box | before = Mattias Tedenby | title = New Jersey Devils first-round draft pick | years = 2009 | after = Adam Larsson }} {{s-end}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Josefson, Jacob}} Category:1991 births Category:Albany Devils players Category:Buffalo Sabres players Category:Djurgårdens IF (men's hockey) players Category:Living people Category:NHL first-round draft picks Category:New Jersey Devils draft picks Category:New Jersey Devils players Category:Ice hockey people from Stockholm Category:Swedish expatriate ice hockey players in the United States Category:Swedish ice hockey centres Category:21st-century Swedish sportsmen