After signing defenseman Chris Tanev to a monster deal earlier in the day, the Toronto Maple Leafs have further bolstered their blueline by signing veteran defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson to a four-year deal carrying a $3.5M AAV. OEL will get a 16-team no-trade clause as part of the deal.
Blueline depth
Ekman-Larsson had a resurgent season with the Florida Panthers after a rough go with the Vancouver Canucks which resulted in his contract being bought out. He is just one week removed from hoisting the Stanley Cup as a member of the Panthers, and played a critical role in the team’s Stanley Cup run.
In 80 games last season for the Panthers, Ekman-Larsson put up nine goals, 23 assists, and 32 points, finished with a plus-10 rating, 76 PIMs, and averaged 18:24 TOI. He was also relied on to run the Panthers power play when Brandon Montour and Aaron Ekblad went down with injury, and had 10 power play points on the year.
Ekman-Larsson isn’t the elite player he once was, but is still a valuable NHL player. He will provide solid veteran depth for the Leafs, brings a plethora of experience including a Stanley Cup, and can step in on the power play as needed.
