Joel Eriksson Ek is a Swedish professional ice hockey centre who plays for the Minnesota Wild of the National Hockey League.
Born on 29 January 1997 in Karlstad, Sweden, he stands approximately 6 feet 3 inches tall and weighs around 207 pounds, shooting left-handed.
He comes from a hockey-oriented family; his father, Clas Eriksson, played professionally for 13 seasons with Färjestad BK in the Swedish Hockey League.
Eriksson Ek was selected 20th overall by the Minnesota Wild in the first round of the 2015 NHL Entry Draft and has developed into a reliable two-way forward known for his physical play, defensive responsibility, faceoff work, and penalty-killing ability while contributing offensively.
Siblings
Joel has one sibling, his younger brother Olle Eriksson Ek, born on 22 June 1999.
Olle is a professional goaltender who was selected by the Anaheim Ducks in the fifth round, 153rd overall, of the 2017 NHL Entry Draft.
He has progressed through the Ducks’ system, appearing in the American Hockey League with the San Diego Gulls and making a brief NHL debut with Anaheim.
The brothers grew up together in Karlstad, often competing intensely in their family’s garage while shooting pucks, with Olle typically in net.
Career
Eriksson Ek began his career in the junior ranks of his hometown club Färjestad BK, progressing through the J18 and J20 levels in Sweden.
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He made his senior debut in the Swedish Hockey League during the 2014–15 season, recording modest production while still eligible for junior play, and continued with Färjestad the following year.
After being drafted by Minnesota, he signed an entry-level contract in July 2015, played one more season in Sweden, and then transitioned to North America.
He scored in his NHL debut on 22 October 2016 against the New Jersey Devils.
Early seasons involved shuttling between the NHL and the AHL’s Iowa Wild or back to Sweden to manage his contract.
By the late 2010s he had established himself as a full-time NHL regular.
He has since become a core piece for the Wild, logging significant minutes in all situations.
Career highlights include reaching his 100th NHL goal in 2023, posting career-high point totals in recent seasons (including 64 points in 2023–24), and contributing to high-scoring team efforts such as a record-setting game against Vancouver in 2024.
In July 2021 he signed an eight-year contract extension with Minnesota.
Internationally he has represented Sweden at junior and senior levels, including World Championships and other tournaments.
Accolades
At the junior level in Sweden, Eriksson Ek earned recognition as a top under-18 forward and leading scorer in certain junior categories during the 2014–15 season, along with junior scoring and goal-scoring honors in the SHL the following year.
He was also named Swedish Junior Hockey Player of the Year for 2016–17.
With the senior Swedish national team he won a gold medal at the 2017 IIHF World Championship and a bronze medal at the 2024 tournament.
In the NHL he has received consistent consideration for the Frank J. Selke Trophy as the league’s top defensive forward, finishing as high as fourth in voting in 2020–21 and remaining among the top vote-getters in subsequent seasons.
He has also been selected for major international events representing Sweden, including the 4 Nations Face-Off and the Olympic Winter Games.
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