Maple Leafs' Ekman-Larsson Trying to Recruit Ivar Stenberg

The Toronto Maple Leafs have the first overall pick at next month's draft, and defenceman Oliver Ekman-Larsson is going to do whatever he can to make an impression on teammate Ivar Stenberg at the World Championships coming up in Switzerland.

Stenberg is battling it out with Gavin McKenna for the top prospect spot heading into the draft, and many insiders around the league have split down the middle on who they'd draft. Many feel Stenberg is more mature on and off the ice and more of a complete player. Meanwhile, McKenna has the dynamic skill and a much higher ceiling to be a game breaker.

Ekman-Larsson knows the Leafs needed some good news, so to have a chance to draft Stenberg, who was almost a point per game player as an 18 year old in the SHL, is something the veteran blueliner is thrilled about. 

“You probably didn’t expect that the night before,” ‘OEL’ told hockeysverige.se. “It was only a nine percent chance, so it was a fun piece of news to wake up to. It’s obviously great for the city and the fans, but also for us as a team.”

“He’s a fantastic player. He really showed that at the World Juniors, which I watched, but also here with the national team,” said Ekman-Larsson, who serves as captain for Tre Kronor. “He’s not here just to be here — he’s here because he belongs at this level and wants to contribute. I feel the same way about all the junior players here. They don’t play like juniors; they just go out there and play. They contribute so much. It’s really fun getting to know them, being around them, and seeing them up close. It’s fantastic.”

“Yeah, I’m trying to recruit him a little bit,” Ekman-Larsson said with a smile.

Photo credit:  Nick Wosika-Imagn Images