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Why This Is Oliver Ekman-Larsson’s Best Season in Years

OEL was everywhere as the Maple Leafs rallied past Winnipeg—scoring, setting up key plays, and stabilizing the team when it mattered most.

by
Old Prof
January 18, 2026

Toronto erased a two-goal hole in the third and won 4–3 in OT, with Oliver Ekman-Larsson everywhere. Goal? Check. Assist? Check. Defensive stop? Check. The guy just does what matters. And it wasn’t just those plays. He was moving the puck, cutting off Winnipeg’s chances, and landing in the right spot over and over. You could almost see him thinking one step ahead of the game.

Unprompted, Auston Matthews went out of his way to credit OEL afterward, saying simply: “[Ekman-Larsson] does it all for us every night. He kills, he runs the power play, he plays big minutes against top lines. He had a huge night for us.”

Ekman-Larsson isn’t heating up—he’s just doing what he’s supposed to. Six points in four games after a quiet stretch nudged him past Morgan Rielly in defensive scoring. The bigger story? His calm, composed presence keeps the Maple Leafs balanced on tough nights. Miss him for a shift, and the difference is obvious.

Oliver Ekman Larsson Maple Leafs — Oliver Ekman-Larsson is having a great Maple Leafs season.

Ekman-Larsson’s On-Ice IQ Is Elite

Take Saturday’s comeback as an example. Bobby McMann’s tying goal in the third period came off a point shot from Ekman-Larsson, deflected through traffic. Later, the defenseman intercepted a sequence that allowed Matthews to find Max Domi on a 2-on-1 for the overtime winner. Ekman-Larsson’s ice sense—knowing when to jump into the play, when to hold the point, when to slide defensively—is what allows Toronto’s stars to operate with freedom.

Ekman-Larsson isn’t just about one big play. A defenseman like him sets the tone for the whole team. Good squads don’t just pile up stars—they rely on guys who keep the middle steady. With OEL on the ice, the Leafs can weather nights when their top lines are off, when Hildeby is scrambling in net, or when the Jets bring their heavy game.

Could This Be Ekman-Larsson’s Best Season in Many Years?

OEL doesn’t chase the spotlight. The Leafs just feel it when he’s missing. His calm presence lifts everyone on the blue line. Against the Jets, he made it happen: his point shot set up McMann’s equalizer, and his defensive work gave Matthews and Domi a 2-on-1 for the OT winner. Stats? Eight goals, 31 points, 40 blocks, 62 hits in 48 games. But it’s his sense of the game that makes him invaluable.

Lately, OEL’s hockey makes you ask: Is this as good as he’s been in years? He’s acting like one of the Maple Leafs’ most important players. When he’s on, the team moves differently—poised, confident, ready to handle whatever comes. For a club chasing the playoffs, having a guy who plays smart, steady, and selflessly like him is a huge lift.