Joel Eriksson Ek

Internationally, Eriksson Ek has represented his home country Sweden at both the junior and senior levels, winning gold once at the 2017 IIHF World Championship.[20] Eriksson Ek stepped into a primarily bottom-six role upon rejoining the team[21] and finished the regular season with three goals and four assists for seven points over 15 games.[1] As the Wild qualified for the 2017 Stanley Cup playoffs, Eriksson Ek made his postseason debut during their first round series against the St. Louis Blues.[23] During the 2017 offseason, Eriksson Ek trained alongside fellow Swedish NHL players Jonas Brodin, Oscar Klefbom, and Marcus Johansson while also adding 10 pounds (4.5 kg) of muscle.[25] While participating in the NHL's Traverse City Prospects Tournament, Eriksson Ek suffered a mild injury that resulted in him missing the first few days of training camp.[26] He recovered in time to play in the Wild's opening night game against the Detroit Red Wings, where he immediately found chemistry on the third line with Marcus Foligno and Chris Stewart.[1] During the Wild's first round 2018 Stanley Cup playoffs series against the Winnipeg Jets, Eriksson Ek was reunited with Foligno and Winnik on the fourth line.[35] He tallied his first career post season point, an assist off of Matt Dumba's second period goal, in Game 3 to help the Wild win 6–2.[39] As Greenway had been reassigned to the AHL prior to Eriksson Ek's reactivation from injured reserve, his new linemate on the fourth line was Matt Read.[43] Upon returning to the NHL, Eriksson Ek was partnered with forwards Kyle Rau and Landon Ferraro and earned time on the team's penalty kill as a replacement for Eric Fehr.[44] He added one goal and four assists over the following couple of games before being returned to the AHL in order to gain playing time during the NHL's mandated mid-winter break.[54] Although Eriksson was setting personal records, the Wild struggled to win games and eventually replaced head coach Bruce Boudreau with Dean Evason on 14 February.[1] As the regular season was cancelled before its conclusion, the NHL implemented a Stanley Cup Qualifiers best-of-five tournament to determine which bottom four playoff teams advanced to the first round.[58] Following the 2019–20 season, the Wild lost veteran centermen Mikko Koivu and Eric Staal, which resulted in Eriksson Ek stepping into a larger role as the team's first-line centre.[65] Eriksson Ek remained the Wild's top line centre for the 2021–22 season but swapped Foligno and Greenway for Kirill Kaprizov and Mats Zuccarello.[76] Eriksson Ek finished the regular season with a career-high 26 goals and 23 assists for 49 points[1] as the Wild faced off against the St. Louis Blues in the 2022 Stanley Cup playoffs.[79] His efforts were also recognized by the Professional Hockey Writers' Association as he placed seventh in Frank J. Selke Trophy voting as the NHL's best defensive forward.[81] Although Eriksson Ek and Foligno started playing alongside winger Ryan Reaves in late-November,[82] the GREEF line was shortly thereafter reunited once Greenway was healthy.[87] Following the NHL All-Star Game break, Eriksson Ek was placed on the Wild's top line alongside Kaprizov and Matthew Boldy.[10] NHL Director of European Scouting Goran Stubb described Eriksson Ek as someone with "great speed, a good strong shot and excellent puck-handling".
surnameMinnesota WildKarlstadCentreShootsFärjestad BKSwedenNHL draftice hockeyNational Hockey LeagueJ18 ElitJ20 Nationell2014–15 SHL season2015 NHL Entry Draft2015–16 SHL season2016–172019–20Jordan GreenwayMarcus Foligno2017 IIHF World ChampionshipClas ErikssonAnaheim Ducks2017 NHL Entry DraftPeter Forsberg2014–15 seasonSwedish Hockey LeagueNHL Central Scouting BureauassistspointsDetroit Red Wings2015–16 season2016–17 seasonJason PominvilleJason ZuckerAmerican Hockey LeagueIowa Wildsalary capGrand Rapids GriffinsNew Jersey DevilsBruce Boudreau2017 Stanley Cup playoffsSt. Louis BluesJonas BrodinOscar KlefbomMarcus JohanssonUSA TodayCalder Memorial TrophyChris StewartDaniel WinnikNew York Islanders2018 Stanley Cup playoffsWinnipeg JetsMatt Dumba2018–19 seasonCharlie CoyleMatt ReadKyle RauLandon Ferraropenalty killEric FehrLuke Kuninrestricted free agent2019–20 seasonCOVID-19 pandemicPhiladelphia FlyersDean Evason2020 Stanley Cup playoffsVancouver CanucksMikko KoivuEric StaalVegas Golden Knights2021 Stanley Cup playoffs2021–22 seasonKirill KaprizovMats ZuccarelloTyson JostWashington CapitalsSeattle Kraken2022 Stanley Cup playoffsProfessional Hockey Writers' AssociationFrank J. Selke Trophy2022–23 seasonRyan ReavesPittsburgh Penguins2023 Stanley Cup playoffsDallas Stars2023–24 seasonBuffalo SabresMatthew BoldyWorld Championships2017 Germany/France2024 CzechiaSweden men's national under-18 ice hockey team2014 World U-17 Hockey Challenge2014 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament2015 IIHF World U18 Championships2017 World Junior Ice Hockey ChampionshipsJeff MarekRegular seasonPlayoffsSeason2014–152015–162017–182018–192020–212021–222022–232023–24The AthleticFarjestad BKStar TribuneAP NewsAlex TuchMinnesota Wild first round draft pick