The Florida Panthers are Eastern Conference champions for the second straight year but this will be the first trip to the final for veteran defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson. For the 32-year-old Swede, the last few years have been a test for him, so he’s really looking forward to it.

“It will be fantastic fun. You don’t really understand,” he told Swedish website HockeyNews.se in the Florida Panthers victorious home dressing room following game six of the Eastern Conference final on Saturday. “Working so hard and you never know if you’ll get the chance so it feels good.”

This was his second conference final – his first was as a 20-year-old back in 2012 in his second season with the Phoenix Coyotes. Knowing he may never get this chance again, OEL has no problem admitting that he allows himself to dream about winning the Stanley Cup.

“You absolutely do that,” he said. “I think you have to. That’s part of the driving force as well. It’s hard to find words. It’s so much fun.”

OEL is one of nine Europeans and one of three Swedes on the Panthers roster, so if they do win the Cup, it will be taking an extended trip overseas this summer.

Once one of the NHL’s top offensively-potent defensemen, OEL signed an eight-year, $66 million contract in 2018 with Arizona, to take effect a year later. Two years into the deal, he and his contract were traded to the Vancouver Canucks, where two chaotic seasons ensued. A slow recovery from a broken foot suffered at the 2022 IIHF World Championship particularly hampered his 2022-23 season.

Last summer, the Canucks bought out the remaining four years of his contract, making him a free agent. There were options, but OEL chose the Panthers because he wanted a chance to win a Cup.

“Yes absolutely,” he confirmed. “It’s really hard to know beforehand, but I heard great things and went with my gut feeling. There are really great guys here – great hockey players.”

He’s had a good bounce-back season, playing 80 of Florida’s 82 regular-season games, where he scored nine goals and recorded 32 points – his highest total since 2018-19. In the playoffs, he has four points in 17 games. And he seems to be savoring every minute of it.

“I try to take in every day and every practise and game,” he said. “I felt today that I had a smile on my face when I came here and we should have that feeling in here now. It’s great fun,” he smiled.

“But you try to hold back a little,” he admitted. “It’s the toughest thing left. We can be proud of this, but then a new journey begins.”

The Panthers’ opponent in the Stanley Cup final could be decided on Sunday, with the Edmonton Oilers having a chance to advance with a win in game six of the Western Final against the Dallas Stars. If not on Sunday, it will definitely become known on Tuesday.

“I don't know, you’re in your bubble all the time and focus on what you can influence,” OEL shrugged when asked about the other series. “We'll see what happens tomorrow and in the coming days we’ll learn more.”