Former Canuck Oliver Ekman-Larsson describes how it feels to win the Stanley Cup

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Cooper Godin
July 21, 2024 (11:14)

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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.

"It feels amazing. That's the dream, right? You just never know if you're gonna get that chance. You put in a lot of hard work and a lot of other teams are trying to do the same thing. I don't think it's gotten to me yet how cool it is; how special it is. You win and then it's a party, another party, team dinners, another party, spending time with all the girlfriends and wives and then the parade and more parties." Ekman-Larsson said.

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.

"It just felt like it was a good fit. Knowing what they did the year before in the playoffs helped, but I also felt like there was some room for improvement at the same time. For a guy like me who was looking for a spot, I wanted to win the Cup and I felt like Florida was the best spot for that with all the experience they gained the year before and the players that they have there. It turned out great." He said.

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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