Vancouver Canucks make Oliver Ekman-Larsson healthy scratch on Thursday

The Vancouver Canucks made veteran defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson a healthy scratch for their game against the Tampa Bay Lightning at Amalie Arena on Thursday.

Ekman-Larsson, 31, has one goal and 19 points while averaging 20:28 in 40 games with the Canucks this season. He’s signed through 2027 at an $8.25 million annual NHL cap hit, $7.26 million of which counts against the Canucks’ payroll.

The Canucks elected to dress Quinn Hughes, Luke Schenn, Travis Dermott, Tyler Myers, Riley Stillman, and Ethan Bear as their defensive group for their game against Tampa Bay.

Ekman-Larsson is currently in his second season with the Canucks after being acquired from the Arizona Coyotes in July 2021.

In the deal, the Coyotes traded Ekman-Larsson and the restricted free agent rights to Conor Garland to Vancouver in exchange for Loui Eriksson, Jay Beagle, Antoine Roussel, and three draft picks) one of which turned into Dylan Guenther, who scored the golden goal at the 2023 IIHF World Junior Championship).

The Coyotes originally selected Ekman-Larsson in the first round (No. 6 overall) of the 2009 NHL Draft. The Karlskrona, Swe. product spent the first 11 seasons of his NHL career with the Coyotes, the last three as team captain.

Through 888 career NHL games with the Coyotes and Canucks over parts of 13 regular seasons, Ekman-Larsson has racked up 134 goals and 436 points. He’s added two goals and eight points in 25 career playoff games, all with the Coyotes.

The Canucks and Lightning are currently tied at one in the second period of Thursday’s game in Tampa.