Canucks defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson suffers foot fracture at IIHF World Championship
The Vancouver Canucks announced Saturday that defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson suffered a foot fracture during the IIHF World Championship in Finland.
The injury will take four to six weeks to heal, but Ekman-Larsson should be ready to return when training camp opens for the Canucks.
Captain for Sweden in the World Championship, Ekman-Larsson played six games, finishing with two assists in the tournament. Sweden was knocked out of the playoff round quarterfinals by Canada, 4-3, in overtime on May 26. The Canadians advanced to the finals and will take on Finland on Sunday, May 29.
The two-time All-Star was acquired by the Canucks in a trade with the Arizona Coyotes last July. Ekman-Larsson spent the first 11 seasons of his NHL career with the Coyotes, playing 769 games. From 2010 to 2021 with Arizona, Ekman-Larsson compiled 128 goals and 260 assists.
The 30-year-old blueliner finished his first season with the Canucks with five goals and 24 assists in 79 regular-season games. Vancouver placed fifth in the Pacific Division with a 40-30-12 record, failing to qualify for the playoffs.
Ekman-Larsson has been the topic of trade rumors recently; he has five years remaining on an eight-year, $66 million contract signed in 2019.
More must-reads: