Oliver Ekman-Larson, 31, has been bought out of his giants contract with Vancouver.
Now the back tells about the feelings after the announcement.
– I was surprised, he says.
Vancouver confirmed on Friday that it will buy Oliver Ekman-Larson, who has four years left on his contract.
When Sportbladet arrives at the Swedish NHL defender, he opens up about the feelings of the past few days.
– he is fine. But apparently, I probably didn’t expect that. There isn’t much that can be done about it now. Oliver Ekman-Larson says I am hungry for revenge and I want to find something new with a good environment for myself.
Did you know this?
No, it was a surprise. You have a few meetings and so forth after the season, so I actually didn’t think that was going to happen. I was surprised.
He was at home in Sweden when he got the news.
– Since I didn’t expect it, I don’t have much to think about going forward. Some practical stuff for this too, with lodging and clothing left over in Vancouver. But all of this kind of thing works. it’s no big deal. I’m not the first in the world to be bought. Maybe I will too, OEL says with a slight laugh.
Have you spoken to any of your teammates?
It was mostly text messages. It usually is, they know there’s a lot going on when something like this comes up. It’s the media, the text messages, and the phone calls that come in.
Get 200 million
Vancouver is one of the teams in the NHL having the toughest time with the salary cap and needing to cut back on expensive contracts – and Oliver Ekman-Larson isn’t leaving unscathed. The acquisition means that over the next eight years, the Canucks will have to pay $19.5 million – more than SEK 200 million – to the Swede. Oliver admits that he himself was not fully aware of the financial terms that apply to acquisitions in the NHL.
– It was a conversation and then I would sign some papers and that was it.
You are 31 years old. what is happening now?
– If only I knew. It’s still a little exciting for me to be a free agent on July 1st. I have never been. So it’s obviously tense, expected, and really every emotion you can think of. But like I said before, I feel very vindictive and want to show that they made the wrong decision. I want to show that I’m a good player and I know what I can do.
Oliver Ekman-Larson was traded to Vancouver from the Arizona Coyotes, where he was the team captain, two seasons ago. He has not been in contact with any other clubs yet.
– You are not allowed to talk to any team until July 1st. So it’s hard to know how to proceed before you start. But it’s just around the corner, in two weeks.
He aims to continue playing in the NHL
The two-time World Cup gold medalist grew up at Tingsryd AIF and played for Leksand before moving to the NHL and the Phoenix Coyotes in 2010. But fans can continue to dream of a return, because sights are set on continued play in the NHL.
– Yes, of course. It was nothing else. Now it’s only been three or four days since I got the call and there have been no second thoughts. I don’t feel finished there. I feel good enough to play in the league. That’s what I’m passionate about: refuting those who might think otherwise.
Finally, how are you going to celebrate midsummer?
– I really don’t know that. But we usually get together and party at Tingsryd. So it would be something similar, I think. Usually it is decided two days in advance.