After cheekily hinting on Saturday he’d be ready to go, Oliver Ekman-Larsson is officially in Toronto’s Game 1 lineup against the Ottawa Senators.
Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube confirmed the news following the team’s optional skate, which the 33-year-old defenseman attended. Ekman-Larsson missed the final four games of the regular season with an upper-body injury.
Berube confirms OEL is available. https://t.co/UCfq0Mzsex
— David Alter (@dalter) April 20, 2025
With the defenseman returning to the lineup, expect the Maple Leafs to go with this defense group in Game 1 against the Senators:
Morgan Rielly — Brandon Carlo
Jake McCabe — Chris Tanev
Simon Benoit — Oliver Ekman-Larsson
Ekman-Larsson joined the Maple Leafs on a four-year, $14 million contract this summer after winning the Stanley Cup with the Florida Panthers last June. The defenseman played in all but five games for Toronto, averaging 21:04 of ice time, and scoring four goals and 25 assists.
‘We’ll See Tomorrow’: Maple Leafs Reveal Lineup For Game 1 Against Senators, But Could It Change?The Toronto Maple Leafs aren’t changing much ahead of Game 1 on Sunday against the Ottawa Senators.
“He’s been a very good player in this league for a long time,” Berube said on Sunday morning.
“He’s been a really good all-around defenseman for us, in my opinion, all situations. He’s the type of guy that’s very versatile, moving around with different partners, playing the right side, power play, penalty kill. He’s kind of a guy that we really count on in different situations and in different roles more than anything.”
Toronto is entering the postseason with only one playoff rookie: Bobby McMann. Ottawa, however, has several players who have yet to make their playoff debut.
Ekman-Larsson has played 49 postseason games with Florida and the Arizona Coyotes. He played in all 24 of the Panthers’ games last year when they won the cup, which will help in the long run with Toronto.
But how much does experience matter, especially in a series where it’s so lopsided in Toronto’s favor?
“I think it matters. I think it’s good to know what you’re getting yourself into. But so many different things that happen out there, so you’ve got to be able to kind of adapt,” Ekman-Larsson said on Saturday.
‘Got To Quiet The Noise’: Craig Berube Reveals What He’s Learned The Most Since Becoming Head Coach of the Maple Leafs Craig Berube is set to embark on his first Stanley Cup Playoffs as head coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs. One day before his team takes on the Ottawa Senators in a best-of-seven first-round series, Toronto’s bench boss was asked what he’s learned the most about coaching the club.
“It’s going to be ups and downs in the series, and it’s the team that kind of handles that the best that comes out of it usually, so I think it matters. But with that being said, I think we’ve got to focus on what we have to do there. Just come out and play like we’ve been playing all year.”
Jake McCabe will also return to Toronto’s lineup after missing the last seven games of the year: “Ready to rock.”
Anthony Stolarz gets the start in Game 1 against Ottawa as the Maple Leafs look for their first series win since 2023 against the Tampa Bay Lightning.
“I’m excited for it for sure. That’s what you play all year for is to get to this situation and have the opportunity to compete in the playoffs,” Berube said. “I’m excited and just focused on what we need to do and trying to prepare our team the best way.”
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