Oliver Ekman-Larsson is a Swedish professional ice hockey defenseman currently playing for the Toronto Maple Leafs in the National Hockey League (NHL).
Born on July 17, 1991, in Karlskrona, Sweden, he is widely known by his initials, OEL.
Ekman-Larsson has built a long and respected career as an offensive-minded defenseman, recognized for his smooth skating, ability to join the rush, and leadership on the blue line.
Drafted sixth overall by the Phoenix Coyotes in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft, he has played more than 1,100 NHL games across several teams and has represented Sweden on the international stage multiple times.
Siblings
Oliver has one younger brother, Kevin Ekman-Larsson, who was born on January 26, 1995, in Karlskrona, Sweden.
Like his older brother, Kevin is also a defenseman and has pursued a professional hockey career, primarily in Sweden’s HockeyAllsvenskan with teams such as Tingsryds AIF.
He briefly entered the Arizona Coyotes organization, signing an AHL contract with the Tucson Roadrunners and spending time in the Coyotes system alongside Oliver.
Career
Ekman-Larsson began his professional journey in Sweden before making the leap to North America.
After being selected by the Coyotes, he joined the organization and made his NHL debut in the 2010-11 season.
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He spent over a decade with the Phoenix/Arizona Coyotes franchise, emerging as one of the team’s cornerstone players and franchise leaders in several defenseman categories, including goals and power-play goals.
Known for his offensive contributions from the back end, he recorded standout seasons, such as the 2014-15 campaign in which he scored 23 goals and led NHL defensemen in several categories.
In 2021, he was traded to the Vancouver Canucks, where he continued to provide veteran stability and offensive production.
He later signed with the Florida Panthers for the 2023-24 season and played a key role in their run to the Stanley Cup Final.
Following that championship year, Ekman-Larsson signed with the Toronto Maple Leafs as a free agent in 2024.
As of the 2025-26 season, he has appeared in more than 1,100 regular-season NHL games, accumulating over 500 career points.
He reached the milestone of his 1,000th NHL game in November 2024 and has remained a reliable, mobile defenseman well into his mid-30s.
Accolades
Ekman-Larsson was selected to the NHL All-Star Game in 2015.
On the international level, he won a silver medal with Sweden at the 2014 Winter Olympics and has secured multiple medals at the IIHF World Championships, including All-Star Team selections in 2015 and 2018.
With the Florida Panthers in 2024, he achieved his first Stanley Cup championship, becoming one of a select group of defensemen to win the title after playing nearly 1,000 regular-season games.
Ekman-Larsson also holds several franchise and NHL records.
He set the mark for the most game-winning goals by a defenseman in a single season with eight during his time in Arizona.
He was the first Swedish-born defenseman to score more than 20 goals in an NHL season (23 in 2014-15) and ranks among the Coyotes’ all-time leaders for defensemen in goals and power-play goals.
Additional distinctions include the fastest shorthanded goal to start a period in NHL history (five seconds).
Beyond the ice, Ekman-Larsson has been involved in charitable work and launched his own luxury clothing line, OEL, in Sweden in 2013.
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