Maple Leafs’ $14 Million Defenseman Reveals Why He Picked Toronto over Panthers
Oliver Ekman-Larsson made headlines in the NHL free agency by leaving the Florida Panthers and signing a multi-year contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs. This decision came after Ekman-Larsson played a crucial role in Florida’s Stanley Cup victory. Despite the Panthers’ interest in retaining him, he opted for a new chapter with the Maple Leafs.
Speaking to Craig Morgan of GoPhnx.com, Ekman-Larsson shared his thoughts on the move. “It’s so weird. You just won the Cup with a team that you have been battling with for a year and love so much and have so much respect for — the whole organization with what they have done for me personally — so it wasn’t an easy decision. I am a guy that always tries to go with my gut feeling and when Toronto showed interest I got that feeling that this is what I wanted to do and this is what we wanted to do as a family,” he explained.
Ekman-Larsson has always enjoyed playing in Toronto as a visiting player, finding the atmosphere and history of the organization particularly appealing. “I’ve always liked coming in there as an away team, playing in that building. It’s always special. Obviously, there’s a lot of history in the organization and I feel like they have a really good team that has a chance to do something special as well. I think it’s a good fit,” he added.
On July 1, Ekman-Larsson signed a four-year, $14 million deal with Toronto, aimed at strengthening their defensive lineup. His goal is to help the Maple Leafs secure their first Stanley Cup since 1967.
Ekman-Larsson’s decision was also influenced by his familiarity with the Maple Leafs’ front office. He has a history with General Manager Brad Treliving and executive Shane Doan from their time together in Arizona. Treliving started his career as an assistant general manager with the Arizona Coyotes, where Ekman-Larsson and Doan were both integral parts of the team.
Expressing his admiration for Treliving, Ekman-Larsson said, “I don’t want to sound like I’m sucking up to him but Brad is one unbelievable person. I don’t think Toronto knows how lucky they are to have a guy like that who cares a lot about his surroundings and organization and players. And then the other guy, he’s okay, too. He meant so much to me with what he did for me when I was a kid in Arizona. Playing with a guy like that — I wish everybody had the chance to be around a guy like Doaner.”
With 982 regular season games under his belt, Ekman-Larsson has scored 144 goals and provided 327 assists, totaling 471 points in his NHL career. His experience and skills are expected to be a significant asset for the Maple Leafs.
Brad Treliving, pleased with the team’s new additions, highlighted the importance of having a robust defensive lineup. In free agency, Toronto not only signed Ekman-Larsson but also added Chris Tanev to their roster. Both veterans bring a wealth of NHL experience, which Treliving finds invaluable.
“We’ve got a group of defensemen. I’d rather have too many than not enough, and we’ll try to sort this out in the coming days. Today’s a day that you can add players, but you build your team over the course of the summer. There are certainly some areas that we still want to address and still want to augment,” Treliving commented on July 1.
As the Maple Leafs prepare for the 2024-25 NHL season, they will kick off their campaign on the road against the Montreal Canadiens on October 9. The additions of Ekman-Larsson and Tanev are seen as pivotal moves to bolster the team’s defense and enhance their prospects for the upcoming season.
Leave a Reply