The Vancouver Canucks are chopping bait on former All-Star defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson after solely two seasons and paying a heavy worth to take action.
Based on NHL insider Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet, the Canucks have purchased out the remaining 4 years on Ekman-Larsson’s contract, making him a free agent.
Briefly, to achieve some cap aid, the Canucks pays Ekman-Larsson $19.5 million to go away. The Canucks cap will take a success for the following eight seasons as a result of buyout, however with the NHL cap anticipated to rise over the following few seasons, it may not be an enormous subject for Vancouver. Nevertheless, the cap hit will increase considerably after yr one ($147,000), rising to $2.35 million in yr two, $4.77 million in years three and 4, and $2.13 million in years 5 via eight, per Puckpedia.
The Canucks acquired Ekman-Larsson and Conor Garland in a 2021 commerce with the Arizona Coyotes in trade for 3 draft picks (together with a first-rounder), Jay Beagle, Loui Eriksson and Antoine Roussel.
Following a stable but unspectacular first season in Vancouver, posting 29 factors (5 targets, 24 assists) over 79 video games, Ekman-Larsson’s recreation dipped in 2022-23. Enjoying in solely 54 video games, he recorded 22 factors (two targets, 20 assists), the bottom since his rookie season (11 factors in 48 video games) in 2010-11. The 31-year-old’s defensive recreation additionally declined, resulting in a major lower in his ice time. Ekman-Larsson averaged 20:11 TOI, down from 22:19 within the earlier marketing campaign.
The defenseman’s downswing, paired with the 4 years remaining on his contract and an $8.2 million cap hit in 2023-24, made Ekman-Larsson much less interesting to maintain round for Vancouver.
A 13-year veteran, Ekman-Larsson will inevitably catch on some place else. We’ll have to attend and see the place Ekman-Larsson lands and at what worth, however along with his worsening play lately, it’s going to probably be at a heavy low cost.
