Ekman-Larsson signed with the Maple Leafs on a four-year, $14 million deal on July 1.
Ekman-Larsson signed with the Maple Leafs on a four-year, $14 million deal on July 1.
At times, the NHL can be a bumpy road.
Marked by ups and downs and challenging organizational decisions, the NHL is ultimately a business. For newly acquired Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson, he’s experienced it firsthand. However, fresh off a Stanley Cup championship, the 32-year-old feels more confident than ever that his best days are still ahead.
On Thursday, Ekman-Larsson met with media members over Zoom and explained why he feels like he has found his game again and feels significantly better than when he was a youthful 25-year-old.
“I want to play until I'm super old and they carry me off the ice,” Ekman-Larsson emphasized. “I don't really look at the age. I feel a lot better than what I did when I was 25, to be honest with you, body-wise. So, I'm always looking to get better. And I feel like I've been taking steps in the right direction. But I felt like I was a good player. And like I said, I kind of found my game again.”
Speaking to the highs and the lows, Ekman-Larsson’s road to Toronto began with a setback when he was bought out by the Vancouver Canucks in 2023. He then signed a one-year, $2.25 million pact with the Florida Panthers – the eventual Stanley Cup Champions.
Though the veteran defenseman was battling injuries and struggled to find the groove in his game then, he never doubted his capabilities to resurface as a valuable asset on the blueline. Reflecting on the experience of being bought out, he shared, “Yeah, I think it's all obviously hard to get bought out. That was my first time. But just knowing that they want to make changes and they want to go a different direction. So pretty much getting fired,” Ekman-Larsson said. “But obviously I've always believed in myself and knew that the last two seasons before this one, I haven't been healthy, been battling some injuries.”
A fresh start with the Florida Panthers became a turning point for Ekman-Larsson. “I felt like just going to Florida, they gave me a great chance, a great opportunity to come in. When (Brandon) Montour and (Aaron) Ekblad were out at the beginning of the year and played with (Gustav) Forsling, who helped me a lot, just coming right into it and feeling like home. So I have a lot to thank him for. But I just felt like myself and played my game. And I thought I had a really good year.”
The Leafs agreed. His solid two-way play earned him a four-year, $14 million contract that carries a modified no-trade clause. His dedication to personal growth and improvement has been key to his resurgence and will be crucial for the Maple Leafs to bolster their blueline through experience, stability, and mobility.
The 14-year veteran can play both sides, left and right, is a strong puck mover, and potentially can compete for a spot on the power play. As he mentions, he is willing to do anything the club needs him to do when discussing the role he sees himself in Toronto.
“Really anything that they need me to do,” said Ekman-Larsson. “That's how I look at it. I feel like I'm still skating well. I know I'm moving the puck well, breaking the puck out. That's something that I want to do and still feel like I can improve on. And I mean, obviously, in any way that they need me to, if it's power play or PK or 5-on-5, it doesn't really change. I just want to be the best version of myself. And I feel like I can be that in Toronto with a lot of good players around me.”
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The Swede has been putting in a lot of work over the last couple of years to get better and is doing his part to be able to play for a long time. As Ekman-Larsson looks forward to donning the Maple Leafs jersey, he brings a renewed sense of purpose and determination. Eager to contribute to the team’s success, he is ready to prove that his best is yet to come.
The former first-round pick has over 1000 games played in the NHL if you include the postseason and has consistently anchored a structured defensive game. In 80 regular season games played in 2023-24, he scored nine goals paired with 23 assists for 32 points. In the postseason, he added another two goals and four assists en route to the Stanley Cup Victory in Sunrise.
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