© Peter Ekholm, NHL.com/sv Independent Correspondent

Oliver Ekman-Larsson returned to his native Sweden a Stanley Cup champion Thursday when the 33-year-old defenseman took in the emotions of showing off hockey’s greatest prize for the first time in his 14-season NHL career. 

“Simultaneously, it feels surreal and real,” Ekman-Larsson admitted from Dackehallen, a Tingsryd-based rink. “The flurry of emotions, the time spent here, and the support shown by everyone who visits. Of course, some are attracted by the trophy, it stirs interest, but I am deeply grateful.”

Ekman-Larsson’s subsequent action was to spend time with his friends and family. This included an homage to his late mother, Annika, at the cemetery with the Cup. Annika had succumbed to breast and lung cancer in 2017.

“He said, “That’s something that ranks high on the list.”

© Peter Ekholm, NHL.com/sv Independent Correspondent

On July 1, 2023, Ekman-Larsson inked a year-long contract with the Florida Panthers following the buyout of the last four years of his contract by the Vancouver Canucks. His impressive performance, which saw him rack up 32 points (nine goals, 23 assists) in 80 games, and six points (two goals, four assists) in 24 Stanley Cup Playoff games, was instrumental in leading both him and the Panthers to their inaugural Stanley Cup victory. Ekman-Larsson also joined the ranks of only eight defensemen in NHL history to claim their first NHL championship after participating in a minimum of 980 regular-season games (982 in his case).

“Florida seemed like a viable option for me pretty early on,” Ekman-Larsson revealed during an on-ice interview at Dackehallen. “They had made it to the Stanley Cup Final the previous year and I believed they possessed the necessary experience and player roster. In retrospect, it turned out to be an excellent decision. It’s easy to say this now, but here we are.”

On July 1, Ekman-Larsson inked a four-year contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs, valued at $14 million, which equates to an average annual value of $3.5 million.

© Peter Ekholm, NHL.com/sv Independent Correspondent

“He said, ‘It’s going to be quite exciting. The entire process from emerging victorious to determining our future plans, it’s all about establishing ourselves. When Toronto made contact, it sparked an additional thrill. We are really eager to kick off the new season there. It’s bound to be thrilling. The organization holds a wealth of history and culture.'”

NHL.com/sv independent correspondent Peter Ekholm contributed to this report