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Can Oliver Ekman-Larsson Bounce Back with the Florida Panthers?

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Oliver Ekman-Larsson, pictured here against the New York Islanders on Feb. 9, was bought out by Vancouver and signed a one-year deal with the Panthers on July 1. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

When Oliver Ekman-Larsson broke his left foot blocking a shot during a game last May in the World Championships, no one could have guessed it would cause as much damage as it did.

While Ekman-Larsson did not want to use the injury as an excuse, he has admitted it ruined his offseason training and perhaps led to a season so bad Vancouver spent over $19 million to buy out the final four years of his contract.

That buyout allowed Ekman-Larsson to take a moment in finding a fresh start somewhere else.

It could just come with the Florida Panthers.

โ€œLooking at what they did last year and going so far in the playoffs to the Stanley Cup Final, I want to win and want to play a long time during the year and that led to the decusion,โ€ said Ekman-Larsson, who signed a one-year, $2.25 million deal with the Panthers back on July 1.

โ€œLooking at their team, there are a lot of good players and a lot of depth. I heard a lot of good things about the teams and the guys on the team so I am super excited to be joining them.โ€

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There is certainly opportunity with the Panthers for Ekman-Larsson as the Panthers will be missing both Aaron Ekblad and Brandon Montour at the start of the season.

And, there should be little doubt Ekman-Larsson has plenty to prove.

โ€œWe’re thrilled to have to have Oliver on board,โ€ Florida GM Bill Zito said earlier this month. โ€œWe’re in a cap crunch, we’re in a tough spot and we need to get value players and players who are willing to come in here and utilize the opportunity in our team as a springboard for themselves.โ€™โ€™

In 2018, he signed a eight-year, $66 million contract with Arizona before being traded to the Canucks in 2021 for a package of players and draft picks including the No. 9 pick in the 2021 draft.

The move looked back in Vancouver from the start as he only spent two seasons with the Canucks before the pricey buyout โ€” one that comes with a heavy cap hit for both the Canucks and Coyotes over the next eight years.

After a rough start to last season, Ekman-Larsson was shut down after what was called an ankle injury in February.

On Wednesday, he said it was another broken foot which cost him the end of the season.

โ€œIt has been a rough couple of years,โ€™โ€™ he said.

Ekman-Larsson says he is all healed up and has begun skating in preparation for the upcoming season.

With a full offseason to get ready and a player who has something to prove, the Panthers look at the signing of Ekman-Larsson as a small gamble.

Ekman-Larsson says he wants to make sure it pays off.

โ€œThe opportunity is here,โ€ he said. โ€œIt will be a good fit for me in Florida and I think the guys will help me become a better player and find success with a team there. It looks like a good fit.โ€

FLORIDA PANTHERS ON DECK

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