Toronto Maple Leafs defenceman Oliver Ekman-Larsson was thrilled to receive the call informing him that he would be representing Sweden at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan.

Ekman-Larsson has recorded 25 points (seven goals and 18 assists) in 41 games this season for the Maple Leafs and has emerged as arguably their best defender during the 2025-26 campaign so far. There were no guarantees that it would have been enough to crack the lineup, which is why he couldn’t contain his excitement when describing how it felt to learn on December 21st that he had made the team.

“I always came into the season wanting to play good for the Leafs and for my teammates here and give me a chance to be on that team,” Ekman-Larsson said to reporters ahead of the morning skate on Tuesday. “So I’m lying if I’m saying I haven’t really thought about it, to be honest with you. But very proud of myself of being named and getting a chance. With that being said, my teammates and the organization have been able to help me out.”

Getting named to the Olympic team was extra sweet, considering he was left off Sweden’s roster at the 4 Nations Face-Off last February. While Ekman-Larsson knows there are a lot of amazing Swedish players who were in consideration, he admitted that it was disappointing to have not participated in the first major international competition involving NHL players in over a decade. Given the fact that he isn’t far removed from having his contract bought out by the Vancouver Canucks, Ekman-Larsson knows you can’t stop fighting even when it feels like it’s all going against you.

“Throughout a career, you go through tough times. And it’s like life, you go through tough times in life, too,” he said. “But I think that’s the moments that defines you and you realize how many good people around you that you have. That’s why I’m standing here today, because I have the support around me of my family and everybody. It’s some highs and lows, but that’s life.”

This will mark Ekman-Larsson’s second appearance at the Olympics, as he previously represented his country in 2014 en route to a silver medal. Knowing how quickly the tournament comes and goes, as well as the condensed NHL schedule, has helped prepare him for what to expect when he arrives with his Swedish teammates a month from now.

Ekman-Larsson spoke of making some tweaks to his offseason training to prepare his mind and body for the possibility of being at the Olympics, which will now be put to the test in Milan.

“ From that experience going into this year and this Olympics, I think you can bring that with you,” he said. “ It’s a short tournament and you gotta be prepared right away when you land there. So it’s fun, but also an experience that I will bring with me and share with the team and make sure that we’re ready to go when it’s done.”