For fans who may not be as familiar with one of the Toronto Maple Leafs’ newest defensemen, let me introduce Oliver Ekman-Larsson. Born in Karlskrona, Sweden, in 1991, Ekman-Larsson recently celebrated his 33rd birthday on July 17. While he’s no longer in his prime, he has had a commendable NHL career, despite a challenging stint with Vancouver, and has established himself as a prominent defenseman.
Standing 6-foot-2 and weighing 191 pounds, Ekman-Larsson was selected sixth overall by the Phoenix Coyotes in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft, marking the start of his notable professional career. He demonstrated his potential early on during two seasons in Sweden (2008-09 and 2009-10) with Leksands IF in the 1st Division. Following his draft, he made the jump to the NHL with the Coyotes in the 2010-11 season, quickly becoming recognized for his strong defensive play and offensive contributions from the blue line.
Although he spent parts of two seasons in the American Hockey League (AHL) with the San Antonio Rampage and the Portland Pirates, Oliver Ekman-Larsson needed just 35 minor league games to adapt to the NHL. He consistently impressed during his time with the Coyotes, who became the Arizona Coyotes after the 2013-14 season. Ekman-Larsson proved himself to be a reliable defenseman, with his standout season coming in 2015-16, when he played 75 games, scored 21 goals, and added 34 assists for 55 points.
**Move to the Vancouver Canucks**
After 11 seasons with the Coyotes, Ekman-Larsson was traded to the Vancouver Canucks in 2021, along with Conor Garland, in exchange for Antoine Roussel, Jay Beagle, Loui Eriksson, and multiple draft picks. The trade was a mixed outcome for the Canucks: while Ekman-Larsson’s performance quickly declined and he struggled defensively, Garland proved to be a valuable addition, and the team was able to offload Eriksson’s problematic contract.
By June 2023, the Canucks opted to buy out Ekman-Larsson’s contract, costing them $19.3 million in dead salary cap space over the next eight years. The decision was based on his regressed performance and the difficulty of trading him due to his large contract.
**Rebound with the Panthers and Signing with the Maple Leafs**
On July 1, 2023, Ekman-Larsson signed a one-year deal with the Florida Panthers, where he had a solid season, playing 80 games, scoring nine goals, and recording 23 assists for 32 points. He also posted a plus-minus rating of +10 and was physically strong during the postseason.
The Toronto Maple Leafs signed Ekman-Larsson to a four-year contract worth an average annual value of $3.5 million. This move brings an experienced defenseman with nearly 1,000 regular-season games and 471 points to the team, along with a noteworthy playoff performance from last season.
**Transition to an Aging Defenseman**
As Ekman-Larsson, now 33, transitions from his prime years, he is no longer the high-minute player he once was. In his peak years, he was known for logging 25 minutes of ice time per game, quarterbacking the power play, killing penalties, and contributing around 20 goals and 50 points per season. Though his offensive output has declined over the past five seasons, he played a crucial role in the Panthers’ 2024 Stanley Cup victory despite reduced ice time, particularly in a solid third-pairing role.
A notable shift in Ekman-Larsson’s game has been his increased physicality. Traditionally not known for a physical style, he registered 65 hits in 24 playoff games in 2024, averaging 2.71 hits per game and 10.5 hits per 60 minutes. This change could align well with the game strategy of new head coach Craig Berube.
**What Ekman-Larsson Brings to the Maple Leafs**
With Morgan Rielly, Chris Tanev, and Jake McCabe already securing top-four defenseman spots on the Maple Leafs, Ekman-Larsson will be vying for a top-four role. The key question will be whether he can maintain the physical play he displayed in the postseason and effectively contribute to the team’s defensive strength.
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