Ekman-Larsson signed a four-year, $14 million contract with Toronto on the opening day of NHL free agency.
Oliver Ekman-Larsson went with his gut feeling by signing with the Maple Leafs.
The 33-year-old Stanley Cup-winning defenseman agreed on a four-year, $14 million deal on July 1, carrying an annual average value of $3.5 million. Ekman-Larsson recently spoke with PHNX Sports' Craig Morgan about what it was like to win with the Florida Panthers and the quick turnaround which saw him sign with the Maple Leafs.
"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 said.
"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."
There are a couple of familiar faces in the Maple Leafs organization for Ekman-Larsson. While the defenseman played with the Arizona Coyotes, Brad Treliving was an assistant GM with the hockey club.
Shane Doan was the Coyotes' captain while the Swede played in Arizona, and is now, too, in Toronto, serving as Special Advisor to Maple Leafs GM Treliving. In conversation with Morgan, Ekman-Larsson spoke highly about both Treliving and Doan.
"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," the defender said.
"And then the other guy (Doan), he’s OK, 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."
Those aren't the only two familiar faces in the organization for Ekman-Larsson, though. The defenseman, who captained Team Sweden multiple times, played with William Nylander at the 2019 and 2022 IIHF World Championships.
The pair also played together when Sweden won gold at the World Championships in 2017.
"I'm super excited about the group. I think it's hard to find better, talented players than what we have in that room," Ekman-Larsson said during his first media availability with Toronto.
"I'm super excited to do whatever I can to help them out. If it's shooting, passing, skating, to get them more space with the puck or whatever they need. Super excited about the chance."
