The Maple Leafs can breathe a little easier today - and not just because they picked up a convincing win over the Penguins on Saturday night. After a brief injury scare, veteran defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson was back on the ice Monday, skating in his usual spot next to Morgan Rielly on Toronto’s top pairing.
That’s welcome news for a Leafs blue line that’s already been tested this season. Ekman-Larsson exited in the third period against Pittsburgh with what the team called an upper-body injury and didn’t return. While there was some initial optimism in the postgame chatter, anytime a key piece like that heads to the dressing room early, there’s going to be concern.
But by Monday afternoon in Florida, the 34-year-old was skating like nothing happened.
“Nothing major,” Ekman-Larsson said, keeping things close to the vest. “I’m feeling good. Just taking care of the body, making sure everything was all good.”
Good is an understatement when it comes to his play this season. Ekman-Larsson has been one of Toronto’s most consistent contributors, not just on the back end, but across the board.
Through 25 games, he’s posted four goals and 16 assists - 20 points total - while logging over 20 minutes a night. That point total ties him with Morgan Rielly for the team lead among defensemen.
He’s also pacing all Swedish-born blueliners in points league-wide, just ahead of Calgary’s Rasmus Andersson.
And now, he’s on the verge of making a little Maple Leafs history.
His first-period goal against Pittsburgh extended his point streak to nine games - one shy of tying the franchise record for a defenseman. That mark, set by Tom Kurvers during the 1989-90 season, has stood for over three decades. Ekman-Larsson could match it in his next outing - and potentially do it against his former team, the Florida Panthers.
Asked if he knew he was on the cusp of tying the record, Ekman-Larsson laughed. “No, I didn’t know that.
Thanks for telling me,” he said. “No pressure.”
The numbers tell one story, but the eye test tells another - and head coach Craig Berube has seen all he needs to see.
“He’s got the full package,” Berube said. “He’s physical, he gets involved, and he can shoot the puck and make plays.
He’s done a great job for us. He’s a selfless player - wherever we ask him to play, right side, left side, he just does it.
And he’s been really good for a while now.”
Ekman-Larsson credits his hot start to a simpler formula: shoot more, move more. And while the point streak is a nice bonus, he’s not losing sleep over the stat sheet.
“I’m just trying to help the team win hockey games,” he said.
Still, for a defenseman who’s been through the grind of long seasons and shifting roles, this stretch in Toronto feels like a bit of a resurgence. He's not just logging minutes - he’s driving play, contributing offensively, and stabilizing the Leafs’ top pair. And now, with a clean bill of health and a record within reach, Ekman-Larsson has a chance to etch his name into the Maple Leafs' history books.
No pressure, indeed.