Toronto is often called the Mecca of hockey, and that's for better or worse.
Nowhere in the NHL are the players and the club so closely scrutinized as there - especially when things are going badly.
Oliver Ekman-Larsson had a good NHL season, was selected for the Olympics - but was on the verge of being traded in the mess surrounding the team that underperformed and missed the playoffs.
With just a few days left until the trade deadline, at the beginning of March, the star defender was suddenly placed on the bench for two games. It was a signal that the Swedish defender was about to be traded.
Expecting second child
At the same time, he and his partner were expecting their second child. He admits this created some anxiety for him and his family.
"Of course, I've never been traded in the middle of a season, and we were a few weeks away from having our son. It was special," he says after a Tre Kronor training session.
In the end there was no trade and Oliver Ekman-Larsson remains with the club.
"I felt sorry for Toronto because I want to be there and I feel great there, so I'm glad I wasn't traded," says "OEL", who became Stanley Cup champion with Florida two years ago and sees the potential in Toronto where William Nylander is one of the stars.
After the season, both the general manager and the coach were fired.
Sundin in the lead
John Chayka comes in as the new general manager and Mats Sundin as his advisor. Chayka came under fire at the first press conference - but "OEL" had him at his old club Arizona and has only good things to say. He is also looking forward to working under Sundin.
"Toronto is a hockey-crazy city, the demands are very high. We are really looking forward to having John and 'Sudden'. It could be great."
Ekman-Larsson is making his eighth World Cup and, if he plays in all the matches, he will move into the top 10 among Swedish men who have played the most World Cup matches.
"It feels natural to step up. Every time you get the chance to pull on the national team jersey... it's something you've dreamed of since childhood and grown up with," he says.
Ekman-Larsson was 18 when he made his World Championship debut in 2010 and sees himself in today's World Championship players who have been given the chance.
"I just remember how everyone showed up and made me feel welcome and comfortable. So it's a bit like that, if you're comfortable you let go and play your best hockey, so that's mainly what I try to contribute," he says.
Tre Kronor has faltered at the start of the World Cup, but "OEL" says that time will tell for the team.
It is the team that learns the most during the tournament that has the best chance.
Here are the men's players who have played the most World Cup tournaments with Tre Kronor.
12: Jorgen Jonsson (1993 - 2007).
10: Michael Nylander (1991 - 2010), Sven Tumba (1952 - 66), Ronald "Sura-Pelle" Pettersson (1954 - 67).
9: Jonas Bergqvist (1986 - 98), Ulf Sterner (1960 - 73), Roland Stoltz (1956 - 67).
Source: Eliteprospects.com.
