Statement made on former Canucks defencemen Chris Tanev & Oliver Ekman-Larsson

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Cooper Godin
September 14, 2024 (9:25)

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A statement has been made on former Vancouver Canucks defencemen Chris Tanev and Oliver Ekman-Larsson.

Former Vancouver Canucks defencemen Chris Tanev and Oliver Ekman-Larsson are set to embark on a new chapter in their respective careers as they begin their first season as members of the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Tanev and Ekman-Larsson will hit the ice next week for training camp in Toronto and are expected to play a key role on the Maple Leafs' revamped defensive group this season and on Friday, we found out what numbers each player will don for their first season in the blue and white.

For Chris Tanev, he'll be sticking with a number that's quite familiar to him - 8. Tanev wore the number 8 during his time with the Vancouver Canucks (aside from the 2010-11 campaign), as well as the Calgary Flames before switching to number 3 with the Dallas Stars after being dealt to the Lone Star State at the deadline.

Oliver Ekman-Larsson will be wearing an entirely new number after stops in Arizona, Vancouver and Florida in his career, and will be making Toronto Maple Leafs history in doing so. Ekman-Larsson has decided to go with number 95 for the 2024-25 season because John Tavares has the number the Swedish blueliner wore with Florida last year. Ekman-Larsson will become the first player in Toronto Maple Leafs history to wear number 95.

The former Canucks defencemen could get their first taste of game action as members of the Toronto Maple Leafs on Sunday, September 22nd against the Ottawa Senators. Ekman-Larsson and Tanev will make their lone stop in Vancouver on February 8th, just before the NHL takes a break for the 4 Nations Face-Off.