However, the most memorable part of the day was a private moment with family and friends. Ekman-Larsson brought the Stanley Cup to the cemetery where his late mother, Annika, who tragically passed away from breast and lung cancer in 2017, is laid to rest.
His career has been marked by highs and lows, and this was certainly a proud moment to share with his closest family members.
“That’s something that is high on the list,” he said.
The Swede signed a four-year, $14 million deal on the opening day of NHL free agency with the Leafs, saying in the interview with NHL.com, “It’s going to be a lot of fun. The whole journey from winning to getting to decide what to do in the future, it’s also a part of settling in,” Ekman-Larsson explained.
“Toronto reached out and it tingled a little extra in the stomach. We are really excited to start the new season over there, it’s going to be a lot of fun. It’s a lot of history and culture in that organization.”
After being bought out by the Vancouver Canucks in 2023, he signed an eventual one-year, $2.25 million pact with the Florida Panthers. Now, coming to Toronto, Ekman-Larsson feels better than ever, as he shared with the media after his deal with the Leafs was finalized.
“I want to play until I’m super old and they carry me off the ice,” Ekman-Larsson emphasized. “I don’t really look at the age. I feel a lot better than what I did when I was 25, to be honest with you, body-wise. So, I’m always looking to get better. And I feel like I’ve been taking steps in the right direction. But I felt like I was a good player. And like I said, I kind of found my game again.”
The former first-round pick has played in 982 regular season games, approaching the milestone of 1,000 games played. With his new deal in Toronto, which includes a modified no-trade clause, Ekman-Larsson adds experience, stability, and mobility to the Leafs’ defense.
The veteran defenseman can play both sides, left and right, is a strong puck mover, and potentially can compete for a spot on the power play. Over his career, he has successfully anchored a structured defensive game.
In 80 regular season games played in 2023-24, he scored nine goals paired with 23 assists for 32 points. In the postseason, he contributed another two goals and four assists on the way to the Stanley Cup victory.
