Joel Eriksson Ek

Joel Eriksson Ek

26-Year-Old CenterC
Minnesota Wild
2023 Fantasy Outlook
Eriksson Ek pocketed 23 goals and a career-high 61 points during the 2022-23 campaign. It was the first time he recorded at least 50 points in his seven-year NHL career. The 26-year-old center set a few other career highs, including average ice time (19:00), shots on goals (247) and blocked shots (55). He suffered a broken leg in the postseason but isn't expecting to miss any time to begin 2023-24. Eriksson Ek notched 23 power-play points and has buried 24 goals with the man advantage over the last two years. He'll enter next season as Minnesota's second-line center with a spot on the top power-play unit; he should have no trouble turning in his third straight 20-goal performance. Read Past Outlooks
$Signed an eight-year, $42 million contract extension with the Wild in July of 2021.
Intends to be ready for camp
CMinnesota Wild
Leg
May 1, 2023
Eriksson Ek plans to be ready for training camp in the fall after trying to play through a broken fibula during the postseason, Joe Smith of The Athletic reports.
ANALYSIS
Eriksson Ek was injured April 6 against Pittsburgh and logged only one shift in the playoffs during Minnesota's first-round series loss to Dallas. He attempted to play through the injury before opting for surgery. Eriksson Ek produced 23 goals and a career-high 61 points in 78 games during the regular season in 2022-23.
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NHL Stats
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2023 NHL Game Log
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2022 NHL Game Log
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2021 NHL Game Log
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2020 NHL Game Log
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2022–23 Time On Ice Stats
  • Average Time On Ice:
    19:00
  • Average Power Play TOI:
    3:24
  • Average Short-Handed TOI:
    2:04
 
Ice Time
Power Play
Short-Handed
2020–21
17:03
1:11
1:40
2021–22
18:35
2:59
2:09
2022–23
19:00
3:24
2:04
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Past Fantasy Outlooks
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
2015
In the first of a new eight-year, $7 million AAV contract which seemed like an overpay at the time, Eriksson Ek rewarded Minnesota's faith in him by posting new high-water marks in both goals (26) and points (49). His 223 shots on goal were nearly 100 more than he had in any prior year, while Eriksson Ek saw a massive bump in power-play usage, averaging 2:59 per game after seeing just 1:11 worth of time per contest in 2020-21. Eriksson Ek probably isn't a top-six offensive talent on a true Stanley Cup contender, but a good portion of fantasy value is determined by a player's usage and the Wild are clearly infatuated with their 2015 first-rounder. A repeat performance from Eriksson Ek is well within the range of potential outcomes.
Eriksson Ek was drafted 20th overall in 2015 as a defensive-minded center. He filled that role over the course of his first three NHL seasons, never scoring more than eight goals. That number jumped to 20 tallies in 2020-21 and the Wild, clearly believing in what they saw, responded by giving Eriksson Ek a new eight-year, $42 million extension. It's a risky proposition given Eriksson Ek shooting percentage was 16.0 a year ago. His best number in that department in his first three years was just 7.8 percent. On a positive note, Eriksson Ek's power-play production should rebound this coming year. He saw 1:11 worth of time with the man advantage per game this past season, posting no goals and two assists. All told, the 24-year-old Swede makes for a depth option in fantasy pools, with a slight bump in leagues that value hits.
Eriksson Ek took a leap forward in 2019-20, doubling his previous year's scoring output from 14 to 29 points. The Swede also added 93 hits, 102 shots on goal and a plus-7 rating in 62 contests last season. Last season's performance represented the first time Eriksson Ek has been able to show why the Wild were willing to invest the 20th overall pick to acquire him in 2015. A larger role -- 15:43 per game compared to 13:30 the year before -- contributed to Eriksson Ek's improvement. Heading into 2020-21, the expectation is he'll be able to maintain a top-six role, which should enable him to approach a 30-point pace. His all-situations usage and solid physical game make Eriksson Ek a useful depth option for fantasy managers.
The 20th-overall pick from 2015 didn't play produce much last year, putting up seven goals and 14 points in 59 games, but he still showed the two-way game that makes him the future up the middle for the Wild. Eriksson Ek is a smooth skater, and if he continues to develop his vision and passing skills, he should become an effective distributor on a roster that maintains a solid set of scoring wingers on the roster. As of now, the Swede still sits behind veterans Mikko Koivu and Eric Staal -- who are 36 and 34, respectively -- on the depth chart, but he could creep his way into the top-six sooner rather than later.
In his first full North American campaign, Eriksson Ek didn't come close to the scoring pace he set in his initial crack at the NHL in 2016-17, but he still showed the two-way game that makes him the future up the middle for the Wild. The 20th overall pick in the 2015 draft is smooth in all three zones, and his vision and passing skills should quickly make him a very effective distributor on a roster littered with snipers on the wings. With Eric Staal in the final year of his contract and Mikko Koivu on the wrong side of 30, the 21-year-old should find himself in a top-six role by next season, but an early audition in 2018-19 isn't out of the question.
Eriksson Ek was claimed by the Wild with the No. 20 overall pick in the 2015 draft, and it's starting to look like he's ready to make a major NHL impact. He started the season in his native Sweden and ended it in Minnesota, where he seemed to have no problem making the necessary adjustments. After all, he managed to pick up seven points in 15 games despite averaging a mere 10:37 of ice time and seeing essentially zero power-play opportunities. Just 20 years old, Eriksson Ek is already a well-rounded two-way pivot who enters the 2017-18 season penciled in as the Wild’s No. 3 center. The presences of Mikko Koivu and Eric Staal ahead of him on the depth chart may limit his short-term upside in fantasy, but if extra playing time opens up as the season progresses, Eriksson Ek will be well positioned to take advantage.
Eriksson-Ek, the 20th overall pick in the 2015 NHL draft, will play in Sweden this season. When he does come to North America, he'll be a top prospect as he's shown strong overall skills. He had 21 goals in 25 games with Farjestad BK's junior squad last season, showing off his good hands and ability to peel out of possession and find seams to the net. He's a smart and competitive player who already plays a 200-foot game. And he has the ability to adapt his game to fit any style. That versatility is incredibly valuable. All Eriksson-Ek needs to do is add muscle and strength, and learn to battle against men. And when he does, he'll find his way to the NHL as a second-line, two-way pivot, not unlike Derick Brassard.
More Fantasy News
Won't return Friday
CMinnesota Wild
Lower Body
April 28, 2023
Eriksson Ek (lower body) will miss Game 6 against Dallas on Friday, per Michael Russo of The Athletic.
ANALYSIS
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Remains out for Game 5
CMinnesota Wild
Lower Body
April 25, 2023
Eriksson Ek (lower body) won't play in Tuesday's Game 5 versus the Stars, Dane Mizutani of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.
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Questionable for Game 5
CMinnesota Wild
Undisclosed
April 24, 2023
Eriksson Ek (lower body) hasn't resumed skating yet and is still being evaluated, Jessi Pierce of NHL.com reports.
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Unavailable Sunday
CMinnesota Wild
Undisclosed
April 23, 2023
Eriksson Ek (undisclosed) will not play Sunday against the Stars, Michael Russo of The Athletic reports.
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Being evaluated
CMinnesota Wild
Undisclosed
April 22, 2023
Eriksson Ek (undisclosed) is still being evaluated after leaving Friday's 5-1 win over Dallas early, Sarah McLellan of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.
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