MAJOR | Oliver Ekman-Larsson finally speaks about his buyout: Feels a great need for revenge

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Cooper Godin
June 20, 2023 (12:54)

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It's been a few days now since the Vancouver Canucks bought out the remainder of Oliver Ekman-Larsson's contract which will cost them a total of $17,013,333 over the next eight years.

On Tuesday, when speaking with Swedish media outlet Aftonbladet, Ekman-Larsson says that he still has the passion to play and is good enough to be in the National Hockey League. He also went on to say later in the the article that the Canucks made a mistake in buying out his contract.

"I don't feel like I'm done over there," Ekman-Larsson said. "I feel like I'm good enough to play in the league still. That's what I'm passionate about: refuting those who might think otherwise."

Ekman-Larsson, 31, wasn't horrible in his two seasons with the Canucks, but certainly wasn't what fans had expected when the organization acquired him, along with Conor Garland, in a massive deal with the Arizona Coyotes back in 2021. During his two seasons with Vancouver, Ekman-Larsson had 51 points (seven goals, 44 assists), 74 penalty minutes and was a minus-19.

A new opportunity awaits the Karlskrona native as he's an unrestricted free agent for the first time in his career. According to Sportsnet's Jeff Marek there is mutual interest between Ekman-Larsson and the Boston Bruins.

Ekman-Larsson went on to add that's excited to be on the open market on July 1st and has a 'great desire' for revenge and to prove that the Canucks made the wrong decision.

"It's still a bit exciting for myself to be a free agent on the first of July. I never have been. So it's clear that it's tense and expectant and every emotion you can think of really. But as I said before, I feel a great desire for revenge and want to show that they made the wrong decision. I want to show that I am a good player and I know what I can do"

Source: Expressen.se