Toronto Maple Leafs defenceman Oliver Ekman-Larsson is relieved to still be with the team after the NHL Trade Deadline passed.

Ekman-Larsson had been a healthy scratch for the last two games, along with Bobby McMann and Scott Laughton, due to roster management purposes ahead of the deadline. While the other two players did find themselves on the move on Friday, Ekman-Larsson did not, in large part due to the fact that the Maple Leafs did not receive their asking price met despite plenty of teams being interested.

“Obviously, not knowing is hard. But overall, try to stay off the phone and TV and everything. It’s hard losing three really good guys,” Ekman-Larsson said after Saturday’s morning skate. “It’s hard, especially for me. I think I said that I want to stay, want to be here and it was obvious. So I think that makes it even harder.”

Ekman-Larsson, like many of the Leafs’ players remaining on the roster, was disappointed to see Laughton, McMann, and Nicolas Roy traded during the deadline. Players are used to seeing roster turnover every year, but it’s a different reality for a team that has never before experienced the feeling of being a seller at this time of the season.

“Obviously, a relief. I was happy and saying ‘Thank god,'” Ekman-Larsson said when asked how he felt after the deadline passed.  ”From day one when that talk came out, I think I made it pretty clear what I wanted to do and that I still believe in this team and wanted to be here.  It’s a tough day, it’s a weird day.”

Given all the uncertainty surrounding the team this past week, there is no doubt that plenty are relieved that at least one of the players who could have been dealt did not. Head coach Craig Berube said as such, telling reporters that Ekman-Larsson wanted to stay and they are happy he is staying.

There are now 19 games left in the regular season, beginning with their clash against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday, and the challenge will be to find meaning during a time where there is nothing left to play for but pride. Ekman-Larsson believes that the best thing the Leafs can do is to keep fighting until the very end.

“We’re not done yet. I think that’s the mindset going into it right now: take one game at a time,” Ekman-Larsson said. “ We’re trying to get better and we still have a lot to play for, I feel like. We’re all accountable for the situation that we’re in, and that’s something that we kind of wanna improve.  We wanna show that we can play better, show that we wanna be a good team and play like it.”