Oliver Ekman-Larsson inked a four-year contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs on Monday and it’s clear that the veteran defenceman has The Passion.
“Playing for other teams, I loved coming into Toronto,” Ekman-Larsson said via TSN’s Mark Masters during his introductory media availability Thursday. “Just a passionate fan base, who cares a lot about the team so I’m super excited about that. Heard a lot of good things from players that play there. That’s what you want. That’s why you play.”
Ekman-Larsson is coming off a Stanley Cup victory with the Florida Panthers, where he excelled in a third-pairing role. Florida controlled 54 percent of the expected goals when Ekman-Larsson was on the ice at 5-on-5, and he’ll likely be expected to take on an elevated role with the Maple Leafs. Ekman-Larsson said he’s looking forward to any role required with the Maple Leafs and is confident that his 2023-24 resurgence will carry over with his new club.
He is also joined by Anthony Stolarz, who signed with the Maple Leafs on a two-year contract to form an effective tandem with Joseph Woll in goal next fall.
“What I like about Stollie is he works really hard and he’s an unbelievable person,” Ekman-Larsson said of Stolarz. “I’m super happy that he’s coming to Toronto as well. You guys are going to love him.”
It’s likely that Ekman-Larsson will be deployed on one of Toronto’s power play units, while seeing top-four minutes for a Maple Leafs team that improved its blue line this week. Chris Tanev is the shutdown, right-shot defenceman the Maple Leafs have desperately looked for during the Auston Matthews Era, and the 34-year-old veteran will likely be paired with Morgan Rielly to begin with the season.
Ekman-Larsson recorded nine goals and 32 points in 80 regular season games with the Panthers, adding two goals and six points during Florida’s Stanley Cup-winning playoff run.
