The Maple Leafs received a trade offer for Oliver Ekman-Larsson they couldn’t refuse originally appeared on The Sporting News. Click here to add Sports News as your go-to source.
The Toronto Maple Leafs have until the NHL trade deadline on March 6 to decide which players they really want to move.
advertise
Oliver Ekman-Larsson will be in the rumor mill, and if the latest reported offer for Oliver Ekman-Larsson is true, the Maple Leafs should accept it.
Edmonton Oilers broadcast color commentator Bob Stover said Friday that the Maple Leafs have made an offer to Ekman-Larsson that would bring the first-round pick back to Toronto.
It’s unclear which team Stover suggested might make the offer, but it will be interesting to see if it’s Edmonton or another club.
The Oilers have been linked to Ekman-Larsson. NHL insider Elliott Friemdan said on his podcast that the Oilers could work on a trade for the 34-year-old defenseman.
advertise
Ekman-Larsson would give the Oilers a player who defeated the Oilers in the Stanley Cup with the Florida Panthers in 2023-24 before joining the Maple Leafs the past two seasons.
It sounds like the veteran defender would prefer to stay put, but that might be difficult to execute. Maple Leafs reporter Nick Alberga posted the following on X:
“We’ll see what happens, but he doesn’t want to go anywhere. He loves Toronto. He wants to stay in Toronto. He wants to win in Toronto.”
This season, Ekman-Larsson has eight goals and 27 assists (35 points) in 59 games.
Ultimately, the Maple Leafs need to replenish their future prospects, and acquiring a first-round pick will help do that.
advertise
At the moment, Ekman-Larsson doesn’t appear to be in his prime yet to help turn the Maple Leafs around, as his decline is likely to have already begun at age 34.
Toronto would be wise not to overthink this and accept the best offer they can make for OEL.
