Insider reveals key obstacle in Oilers trading for Ekman-Larsson

Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson. Morgan Tencza-Imagn Images

Insider reveals key obstacle in Oilers trading for Oliver Ekman-Larsson

Originally posted on NHL Trade Talk | By Jackson Weber | Last updated Mar 2, 2026 11:53 AM ET

The Edmonton Oilers’ interest in Oliver Ekman-Larsson is no secret. All of the insiders have reported or speculated on it to some degree in recent weeks, and with the March 6 trade deadline rapidly approaching, those talks are only picking up steam.

Whether GM Stan Bowman will be willing to stomach what, by the sounds of it, is a pretty high asking price from Brad Treliving and the Toronto Maple Leafs is a big question mark. However, according to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, the biggest hurdle in the Oilers’ pursuit of Ekman-Larsson might actually be convincing him to waive his no-trade clause to go to Edmonton.

Friedman said:

“I think the other guy they’ve looked at is Oliver Ekman-Larsson from Toronto. He’s a lefty, but he can play the right side. I think, though, Ekman-Larsson has control over a trade to Edmonton, so they would have to convince him to waive it. But I think defensemen like that are the kinds of players that Edmonton is looking for.”

The 34-year-old Ekman-Larsson is in year two of the four-year, $14.4M contract he signed to join the Maple Leafs as a free agent in 2024, which includes said modified no-movement clause.

He’s having a very productive season, with 35 points (eight goals, 27 assists) tallied through 60 games played.

While you would have to imagine joining a contending team led by Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl would be more than enough to interest Ekman-Larsson, it’s not all that simple. He and his wife are due to have a baby rather soon, which of course complicates everything, no matter the on-ice situation.

For that reason, Bowman and company will certainly need to do some persuading if they want to get their guy. Ekman-Larsson may not be the right-shot defenseman they’re ultimately seeking, but aside from that, he checks a lot of boxes with regard to Edmonton’s needs — Stanley Cup pedigree, solid enough defensively, hard to play against — and, as Friedman noted, he handles his offside very well anyway.

This article first appeared on NHL Trade Talk and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: