Oliver Ekman-Larsson Nominated for 2024 Masterton Trophy

On Friday, the Florida chapter of the Professional Hockey Writers Association (PHWA) named defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson as its nominee for the 2023-24 Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy. 

 

The 14-year veteran has appeared in every Panthers game this season — playing up and down the lineup depending on what the team required from him. 

 

In 77 games with the Panthers, Ekman-Larsson has 9 goals and 21 assists for 30 points — his best offensive season since 2019-20, when he captained the Arizona Coyotes. 

 

Ekman-Larsson, 32, joined the Panthers as a free agent after being bought out by the Vancouver Canucks over the summer. 

 

Last season during a February game with the Canucks, Ekman-Larsson injured his foot for the second time in 12 months — effectively ending his season and tenure with the Canucks.  

 

This year with the Panthers, Ekman-Larsson has had to take on numerous roles on the team’s blue line. 

 

“This was the first summer in a couple of years where he was no longer rehabbing an injury. He healed during the season and got to summer training.” Panthers head coach Paul Maurice said of Ekman-Larsson last month. “I think we understand his intelligence, his ability to play both sides… He plays a competitive game in front of our net and in the corner, so we appreciate that.”

 


Starting the season without Aaron Ekblad and Brandon Montour, Ekman-Larsson stepped up for the Panthers — playing top pair minutes to begin the year. 

 

When the team was fully healthy, he had no problem accepting a smaller role and playing fewer minutes. 

 

After recovering from multiple injuries, being bought out with four years remaining on his contract and moving across the continent to Sunrise, Ekman-Larsson has remained a true professional and an important voice in the Panthers dressing room. 

 

Since 1968, the Masterton Trophy has been awarded to the player who best exemplifies perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey. 

 

Each PHWA chapter selects one player from the team they cover to represent as its nominee for the Masterton Trophy. 

 

The 32 nominees will be narrowed down to three finalists.

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