Blueliner remembers Salming and eyes second ring

Ekman-Larsson arrives with a sense of history, purpose

- KEVIN MCGRAN

Oliver Ekman-Larsson feels he has an emotional link to a precious piece of Maple Leafs history.

He was a defenceman with the Vancouver Canucks and sent to take the ceremonial opening faceoff against William Nylander on Nov. 12, 2022. The two, of course, are Swedish. And it was an evening during Hockey Hall of Fame weekend set aside to honour a legendary Swede: long-time Leafs defenceman Börje Salming.

Salming dropped the puck to one of the loudest and longest ovations ever heard at Scotiabank Arena. He died two weeks later of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

"That was pretty special," Ekman-Larsson recalled at the Leafs' charity golf tournament on Monday. "It was a tough night, but a night I'll remember for the rest of my life. I got a chance to hug him and say a couple of words. I appreciate that."

Ekman-Larsson is now a Leaf on a four-year, $14-million (U.S.) deal signed July 1, shortly after he won the Stanley Cup with the Florida Panthers.