Ekman-Larsson pays tribute to former team in son's name.

Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson recently caught up with Arizona Coyotes insider Craig Morgan, a man who covered most of Ekman-Larsson's career in the National Hockey League, and it was during that interview that Ekman-Larsson would reveal that he has a soft spot in his heart for one of his former teams.

During the course of the interview, Ekman-Larsson was asked about the relatively recent birth of his young son. Ekman-Larsson was excited to share news about his young child, but was especially excited to reveal his middle name which held a special surprise.

"He was born April 8. His name is Leo. It’s OEL backwards," said Ekman-Larsson as per Craig Morgan. "We’re keeping it easy, you know? Do you want to know his middle name?"

Morgan of course answered in the affirmative and it was at that moment that Ekman-Larsson would reveal that he had chosen his son's middle name based on a very special place in his life.

"Phoenix. It’s Leo Phoenix Ekman-Larsson," revealed Ekman-Larsson.

Ekman Larsson was of course drafted by the Phoenix Coyotes as they were known at the time and not the Arizona Coyotes, beginning his career in the NHL as a Phoenix Coyote as well and playing under that name for the first 4 seasons of his career in the NHL. It seems fair to suggest that the combination of being elected by the Phoenix Coyotes as well as his formative years in the NHL under that organization left a lifelong impression on the Swedish defenseman.

"I was so invested in hockey in Arizona and really wanted it to be a place we would have a chance to win," admitted Ekman-Larsson."

I suspect that fans in Arizona, who already had a very high opinion of Ekman-Larsson, are going to absolutely love this latest reveal.