Craig Berube Hints at an Increased Role for Newcomer Oliver Ekman-Larsson
Veteran defender Oliver Ekman-Larsson appears poised for an increased role with the Toronto Maple Leafs, according to some recent comments from Craig Berube.
The Maple Leafs recently secured a 4-2 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins, and have appeared far more in control during games under Craig Berube than they were over the last few seasons under Sheldon Keefe. One standout player since training camp has been Oliver Ekman-Larsson. He logged a team-high 25:02 minutes of ice time on Saturday and was featured on the first power-play unit on the weekend, replacing long-time Leaf Morgan Rielly.
So far this season, Ekman-Larsson has averaged 2:57 of power-play time per game, indicating he may be in line for an even larger role than fans had anticipated. As noted by David Alter on X, Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube commented on Ekman-Larsson's capabilities:
Berube's transition from Rielly to OEL on the top PP unit, as well as his commentary on the 33-year-old, certainly indicates that he could be in line for some added responsibility in the coming games.
While Ekman-Larsson may be far from his career-high of 23 goals achieved with the Arizona Coyotes a number of years ago, he remains a solid defender with high offensive potential. During his quest for his first Stanley Cup with the Florida Panthers, he recorded 32 points in 80 games, which is certainly strong production for a veteran blueliner past his prime.
If Ekman-Larsson continues on the team's first power-play unit, he will have an abundance of talent to work with, including Auston Matthews, William Nylander, Mitch Marner, and John Tavares -- assuming Berube doesn't dismantle the top group and balance out the two PP units.
Given that the Maple Leafs' power play struggled with inconsistency last season, the addition of the veteran Swede could be crucial in establishing a more reliable top unit moving forward, providing more of what Craig Berube is looking for in a top PP quarterback.
