Oliver Ekman-Larsson Shows Appreciation to Leafs Teammates With A Special Gift After 1000th NHL Game

Celebrating his 1000th career NHL game last night, Oliver Ekman-Larsson has had quite the journey to get to this point.

From being a premier elite defenseman at the start, he had some rough years and many wondered if this was the end. A Stanley Cup win later and a new 4-year contract will tell you otherwise.

So when the Toronto Maple Leafs came back from down 3-1 to the Washington Capitals, capped off by a stunning save by Joseph Woll on Alexander Ovechkin which translated into a John Tavares breakaway winner; the man known as OEL needed to reward them.

I'm sure throughout his 15-year career, Ekman-Larsson has developed quite the taste for the luxurious, and I don't think there will be any chicken nuggets ordered. It seems like the Maple Leafs are excited, too, with Bobby McMann curious as to the lengths his defender will go to show his appreciation.

What a career it's been too. Since being drafted by the then-Phoenix Coyotes in 2009, he's been one of the league's best offensive defensemen and carved out a name as a solid defender with the capability to run an entire offense.

After the Coyotes, he made stops in Vancouver (where he played some of the worst hockey in his career) and then, last season, helped the Florida Panthers win the Stanley Cup. Signing a four-year deal with Toronto this offseason, he's looked a decade younger and is showing signs that maybe it wasn't a bad deal after all.

This season he has 1 goal and 5 assists, but is doing so much more too. He's hitting a lot, intimidating opponents, and not backing down when things get a little hairy.

In his career however, he has 477 points in those 1000 career games, including a whopping 186 points on the powerplay; unreal numbers for a defenseman.

It's safe to say Toronto and Oliver Ekman-Larsson have made a great pairing, much like a good wine and cheese. Perhaps it's one of the delicacies that 'OEL' will give his teammates, after creating a memory that will last long after his career ends.