Maple Leafs' Oliver Ekman-Larsson trade desires made clear

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Maple Leafs' Oliver Ekman-Larsson trade desires made clear originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Toronto Maple Leafs have not done what they needed to do out of the Olympic break.

The Leafs needed to go on a quick hot streak to avoid being sellers by the March 6 NHL trade deadline, but instead, they lost back-to-back games. That puts a lot of players into the spotlight as potential trade targets, including Oliver Ekman-Larsson.

It sounds like the veteran defenseman would much prefer to stay put, though.

Leafs reporter Nick Alberga posted this on X:

"We'll see what happens, but he doesn't want to go anywhere. He loves Toronto. He wants to stay in Toronto. He wants to win in Toronto."

Because of Ekman-Larsson's vast experience, he could be one of the more desirable players the Leafs have to offer to a contending team before the deadline.

And that means that Ekman-Larsson's desire to stay put may end up flying in the face of the Leafs' hopes for retooling for next season.

Ekman-Larsson does have a 16-team trade list, according to Alberga, but that gives the Leafs enough room to still pull something off.

This season, Ekman-Larsson has eight goals and 27 assists (35 points) in 59 games.

The 34-year old does have a Stanley Cup in his career with the Florida Panthers a couple seasons ago, so he's proven he can get it done on a big stage.

Teams will certainly want OEL if he's indeed on the block, no matter what his current thoughts are about leaving Toronto. He's a trusty veteran who would surely be steady in defense for whatever team might add him.

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