Oilers linked to Maple Leafs trade for Olympian originally appeared on The Sporting News Click here to add Sports News as your go-to source.
The Edmonton Oilers are looking to overcome back-to-back losses in the Stanley Cup Finals.
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The Toronto Maple Leafs appear to have no choice but to sell before the trade deadline.
They might make an ideal partner.
NHL insider Elliott Friemdan said on his podcast that the Oilers could potentially trade for Maple Leafs defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson.
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.”
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This season, Ekman-Larsson has eight goals and 27 assists (35 points) in 59 games.
He represented Sweden at the Olympics, although OEL didn’t get the ice time he had hoped for.
If the Oilers trade him, Ekman-Larsson will be looking for quality production with a contending team for the remainder of the season. Toronto doesn’t have that to offer him.
Of course, this is the Maple Leafs’ decision, not Ekman-Larsson’s. But it would certainly feel better for an acquiring team like the Oilers to know OEL wants to be there.
Edmonton could use defensive help. Ekman-Larsson should be available from the Maple Leafs. The Oilers should see if there is a game.