"Will be a huge flop like Klingberg": NHL fans react to Oliver Ekman-Larsson's reason for joining Toronto Maple Leafs

By Arnab Mondal

Modified Jul 05, 2024 05:40 GMT

Oliver Ekman-Larsson's recent comments on choosing the Toronto Maple Leafs over returning to the Florida Panthers have sparked mixed reactions among NHL enthusiasts. Signing a four-year, $14-million deal with the Leafs, Ekman-Larsson mentioned Toronto's roster strength.

He said, "It's hard to find better talented players than what we have in that room, so I'm super excited to do whatever I can to help them out."

His ͏praise for Toronto's ͏lineup, fe͏atur͏ing stars like Auston Matthe͏ws, Willi͏a͏m ͏Nylander, ͏and M͏itch ͏Mar͏ner,͏ ͏seemed to subtly c͏ontr͏a͏st ͏with his dep͏ar͏ture fro͏m the Panth͏ers follo͏wing their Stanley͏ Cu͏p ch͏ampionship. Oliver Ekman-Larsson'͏s departure ͏wa͏s͏ a blow to Florida's chances o͏f def͏ending the͏ir titl͏e,͏ despite remainin͏g ͏favorites.

Many fans see Ekman-Larsson's words as a slight against his former team as they took to X (formerly Twitter) to share their views on his comments. One fan tweeted:

"He will be a huge flop in Toronto like Klingberg"

Another fan cautioned him against messing up things in Toronto.

"You better not mess up."

Other fans also shared their opinions on this matter.

"Is he sure about that comment?" one fan said.

"Not a playoff team i’m afraid" another fan reacted.

"Klingberg all over again lmfao" one fan commeted.

"He talks like he’s the difference maker for the Florida" one fan pointed.

Ekman-Larsson's commitment to aiding Toronto in their quest for their first championship since 1967 resonates with Leafs supporters eager for playoff success.

Oliver Ekman-Larsson primed for success with Maple Leafs after Florida

After revitali͏zing his game with ͏a Stanl͏ey Cup win wi͏th th͏e Florid͏a Panthers, Oliver Ekman-Larsson is eager for͏ his next ͏chall͏enge with the Toronto M͏aple L͏eafs. Refle͏cting on his successf͏ul stin͏t in͏ Flor͏ida, Ekman-Larsson pointed͏ o͏n the signif͏ic͏ance of his new contract's͏ length, expressing a ͏desire t͏o play until h͏e͏'s "su͏per old."

“I mean, I wanna play until I am super old and they carry me off the ice.”

Attributing his improved condition to diligent off-season training aimed at matching the NHL's increasing speed, he said:

"I feel a lot better than what I did when I was 25, body-wise," he noted.

Ekman-Larsson acknowledged past challenges, including a tough stretch with the Vancouver Canucks, where injuries impacted his performance before a buyout offered a fresh start:

"It’s obviously hard to get bought out," he admitted. "Just knowing that they want to make changes and they want to go in a different direction, so pretty much getting fired."

In Florida, his one-year deal proved fruitful, helped by supportive teammates like Gustav Forsling, whom he credited on the blue line:

"I have a lot to thank him for. I felt like myself and played my game and I thought I had a really good year."

As he joins the Maple Leafs, Oliver Ekman-Larsson aims to continue improving to be his best, alongside his new teammates in Toronto.