Oliver Ekman-Larsson has quietly become one of the feel-good stories of this NHL season, and now at 34 years old he’s punched his ticket to the Olympics for Sweden in Milan-Cortina 2026.

The Leafs will have not one, but two representatives playing for Team Sweden at the upcoming Olympic Games, as Oliver Ekman-Larsson will join William Nylander after much speculation over whether or not he deserved to make the cut.

Fans may have expected the veteran blue liner to slip through the cracks like others before him, but his strong play for the Toronto Maple Leafs this season has flipped that narrative.

Ekman-Larsson has become one of the top Swedish NHL defensemen in scoring with 25 points this season and has shown reliability in his own zone, giving coach Sam Hallam real confidence in his inclusion. He’s also tied for 5th in 5v5 points among all NHL defensemen.

The Leafs defenceman was a silver medalist in Sochi 2014 and now looks set for a second Olympic run, proving that durability and elite puck movement still matter in international hockey.

OEL was a former 6th overall pick in 2009 and brings a blend of experience few others can match. His journey hasn’t been smooth; a rough stint in Vancouver left questions about his long-term value, but a Stanley Cup with Florida and a reinvigoration in Toronto have pushed him back into the spotlight.

For Leafs fans, Ekman-Larsson’s return to the international stage feels like vindication after years of being underrated. It also highlights the brutal competition for limited Olympic roster spots across the hockey world.

John Tavares among several Leafs Olympic snubs

That competition is clearest when you look at who didn’t make their country’s Olympic cut. John Tavares, the 34-year-old Maple Leafs center and decorated NHL veteran, was widely discussed as a possible Team Canada contributor but ultimately didn’t crack the final 25-man Olympic roster despite a strong season and leadership value. Many pundits and fans felt he deserved a look in Italy but Canada’s depth at forward kept him home.

Across the pond on the American side, forward Matthew Knies has been one of the Leafs’ breakout stars and was at least in the conversation for Team USA, but he did not make the final Olympic squad. For a young player with experience from 2022 and solid NHL stats, that snub stings and underscores how narrow the window is when depth players are vying for limited spots.

Meanwhile, Matias Maccelli, who has shown flashes with the Leafs this season, especially of late, and who many thought might join Finland’s contingent, didn’t make his national team’s roster either, adding to the theme of surprising ommissions around the league.

Olympic hockey is back with NHL stars and veterans alike battling for ice time in Italy, and Ekman-Larsson’s story is a reminder that persistence and performance can still rewrite expectations.

Naturally, Auston Matthews was named to Team USA, so no surprises there.

Previously on Toronto Hockey Daily