<p>Through the whirlwind of winning the Stanley Cup and celebrating the win with his Florida Panthers teammates, Oliver Ekman-Larsson was able to listen to his heart and determine the best course of action for himself and his family by signing with the Toronto Maple Leafs.</p>
<p>That is what Ekman-Larsson revealed when <a href="https://gophnx.com/a-qa-with-former-coyote-oliver-ekman-larsson/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">speaking with PHNX Sports&#8217;s Craig Morgan</a> about what led to his decision to come to Toronto. While he admitted that it was weird having to decide his future so soon after hoisting the Cup, he feels he made the right choice in joining such a storied franchise.</p>
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<p>&#8220;I am a guy that always tries to go with my gut feeling and when Toronto showed interest I got that feeling that this is what I wanted to do and this is what we wanted to do as a family,&#8221; Ekman-Larsson said. “I’ve always liked coming in there as an away team, playing in that building. It’s always special. Obviously, there’s a lot of history in the organization and I feel like they have a really good team that has a chance to do something special as well. I think it’s a good fit.”</p>
<p>This isn&#8217;t the first time Ekman-Larsson has expressed that <a href="https://theleafsnation.com/news/oliver-ekman-larsson-raves-about-the-maple-leafs-passionate-fan-base" target="_blank" rel="noopener">playing in front of the fans at Scotiabank Arena</a> was a factor in why he chose to sign on for four seasons. It further emphasizes his excitement about coming to play for the Leafs, especially after coming off a season <a href="https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article/after-finding-his-game-in-florida-ekman-larsson-ready-to-help-maple-leafs/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">where he regained his confidence</a> and played a key role on a Cup-winning team.</p>
<p>It also helps that he will be reunited with some key figures from his time with the Coyotes in Brad Treliving and franchise legend Shane Doan. Ekman-Larsson spoke highly of the two members of the Leafs&#8217; front office that he will get to work alongside once again.</p>
<p>“I don’t want to sound like I’m sucking up to him but Brad is one unbelievable person,&#8221; he said of his new GM. &#8220;I don’t think Toronto knows how lucky they are to have a guy like that who cares a lot about his surroundings and organization and players.&#8221;</p>
<p>&#8220;And then the other guy, he’s OK, too. He meant so much to me with what he did for me when I was a kid in Arizona. Playing with a guy like that — I wish everybody had the chance to be around a guy like Doaner.”</p>
<p>It puts into perspective just how much his time in Arizona meant to him that was eager to jump at the chance to join the Leafs and be reacquainted with Treliving and Doan. Ekman-Larsson showed his love for the Valley in speaking with Morgan by revealing that his newborn son, Leo, was given the middle name of &#8220;Phoenix&#8221;, expressing his belief in the market, and championing for the NHL to return to the area someday.</p>
<p>The Coyotes may not have been a well-run franchise during his time there, but the people who did their best to make the most of it have continued to resonate with him. It helps partially explain why he jumped at the chance to sign with the Leafs because Treliving and Doan meant a lot to Ekman-Larsson and he was eager for a chance to work alongside them once again.</p>
<p>Along with Max Domi already locked in and the presence of Arizona natives in Auston Matthews and Matthew Knies, it is clear the Coyotes-Leafs pipeline remains strong and it won&#8217;t be the last time that it bears fruit.</p>
<p>Some fans may scoff <a href="https://theleafsnation.com/news/oliver-ekman-larsson-signing-has-merit" target="_blank" rel="noopener">at the contract Ekman-Larsson received</a> but it is hard not to get excited about a guy who is eager to play in front of a passionate fanbase and help instill some wisdom gained from being a Cup champion. There is no telling how things will go for him over the next four years, but he listened to his gut feeling and has no regrets about doing what is best for him and his family by signing with the Leafs.</p>
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Through the whirlwind of winning the Stanley Cup and celebrating the win with his Florida Panthers teammates, Oliver Ekman-Larsson was able to listen to his heart and determine the best course of action for himself and his family by signing with the Toronto Maple Leafs.

That is what Ekman-Larsson revealed when <a href="https://gophnx.com/a-qa-with-former-coyote-oliver-ekman-larsson/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">speaking with PHNX Sports's Craig Morgan</a> about what led to his decision to come to Toronto. While he admitted that it was weird having to decide his future so soon after hoisting the Cup, he feels he made the right choice in joining such a storied franchise.
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"I am a guy that always tries to go with my gut feeling and when Toronto showed interest I got that feeling that this is what I wanted to do and this is what we wanted to do as a family," Ekman-Larsson said. “I’ve always liked coming in there as an away team, playing in that building. It’s always special. Obviously, there’s a lot of history in the organization and I feel like they have a really good team that has a chance to do something special as well. I think it’s a good fit.”

This isn't the first time Ekman-Larsson has expressed that <a href="https://theleafsnation.com/news/oliver-ekman-larsson-raves-about-the-maple-leafs-passionate-fan-base" target="_blank" rel="noopener">playing in front of the fans at Scotiabank Arena</a> was a factor in why he chose to sign on for four seasons. It further emphasizes his excitement about coming to play for the Leafs, especially after coming off a season <a href="https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article/after-finding-his-game-in-florida-ekman-larsson-ready-to-help-maple-leafs/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">where he regained his confidence</a> and played a key role on a Cup-winning team.

It also helps that he will be reunited with some key figures from his time with the Coyotes in Brad Treliving and franchise legend Shane Doan. Ekman-Larsson spoke highly of the two members of the Leafs' front office that he will get to work alongside once again.

“I don’t want to sound like I’m sucking up to him but Brad is one unbelievable person," he said of his new GM. "I don’t think Toronto knows how lucky they are to have a guy like that who cares a lot about his surroundings and organization and players."

"And then the other guy, he’s OK, too. He meant so much to me with what he did for me when I was a kid in Arizona. Playing with a guy like that — I wish everybody had the chance to be around a guy like Doaner.”

It puts into perspective just how much his time in Arizona meant to him that was eager to jump at the chance to join the Leafs and be reacquainted with Treliving and Doan. Ekman-Larsson showed his love for the Valley in speaking with Morgan by revealing that his newborn son, Leo, was given the middle name of "Phoenix", expressing his belief in the market, and championing for the NHL to return to the area someday.

The Coyotes may not have been a well-run franchise during his time there, but the people who did their best to make the most of it have continued to resonate with him. It helps partially explain why he jumped at the chance to sign with the Leafs because Treliving and Doan meant a lot to Ekman-Larsson and he was eager for a chance to work alongside them once again.

Along with Max Domi already locked in and the presence of Arizona natives in Auston Matthews and Matthew Knies, it is clear the Coyotes-Leafs pipeline remains strong and it won't be the last time that it bears fruit.

Some fans may scoff <a href="https://theleafsnation.com/news/oliver-ekman-larsson-signing-has-merit" target="_blank" rel="noopener">at the contract Ekman-Larsson received</a> but it is hard not to get excited about a guy who is eager to play in front of a passionate fanbase and help instill some wisdom gained from being a Cup champion. There is no telling how things will go for him over the next four years, but he listened to his gut feeling and has no regrets about doing what is best for him and his family by signing with the Leafs.
<h3>Sponsored by bet365</h3>
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Oliver Ekman-Larsson went with his gut feeling in choosing to sign with the Leafs

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