Former Canuck Oliver Ekman-Larsson describes how it feels to win the Stanley Cup
Former Vancouver Canucks Oliver Ekman-Larsson sat down for a Q&A recently with Craig Morgan of PHNX Sports and described how it feels to win the Stanley Cup.
In the interview, Ekman-Larsson touched on a number of different topics including what it was like to hoist the Stanley Cup with the Florida Panthers last month, his love for the Valley in Arizona and why he chose to sign with Florida following his contract being bought out by the Vancouver Canucks.
Ekman-Larsson said that hoisting the Stanley Cup feels amazing after putting in a lot of hard work just to get to that point to have an opportunity to win hockey's ultimate prize. He went on to add that playing in the Stanley Cup Final was special, having a chance to win it all, which the Panthers ended up doing, coming with a lot of pressure, but they all handed it quite well.
As for his day with the Stanley Cup, Ekman-Larsson says that he doesn't have anything planned just yet, but will be in his hometown of Tingsryd in Sweden with his family and friends.
He added, "It's hard to describe, but I would want everybody to get that chance because it's special. It's a lot of pressure and there's so much on the line, but I was just so thrilled to have that chance to be playing for the Cup with a special group of guys. I think I was smiling every day and just trying to just enjoy it. And when we won it, I couldn't sleep for two nights after that."
"I haven't planned it yet but probably just in my hometown Tingsryd (Sweden). I'm so happy and just thrilled that I get to share it with my family and my fiancée (Maja Ericsson) and now my kid."
Last summer, the Canucks decided to buyout the final four years of his contract. According to PuckPedia, the buyout lasts eight seasons and cost the Canucks $146,667 in the first year, $2,346,667 next season and the following amounts in the last six years of the buyout:
$4,766,667 (2025-26)
$4,766,667 (2026-27)
$2,126,667 (2027-28)
$2,126,667 (2028-29)
$2,126,667 (2029-30)
$2,126,667 (2030-31)
Two weeks after the buyout, the National Hockey League's free agent market opened up, Oliver Ekman-Larsson signed a one-year contract with the Florida Panthers and shared with Craig Morgan why he decided to sign there.
Shortly after hoisting the Stanley Cup with the Panthers, Ekman-Larsson left the organization, becoming a free agent once again. His success with the Panthers landed the 33-year-old a four-year deal worth $14 million with the Toronto Maple Leafs and it's going to be interesting to see what role he's able to play for them starting next season.
Source: Craig Morgan/PHNX Sports
Oliver Ekman-Larsson talks Stanley Cup, fatherhood and his undying love for the Valley
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