Joel Eriksson Ek

Florida Panthers center Aleksander Barkov won the Selke Trophy on Friday night, but it wasn’t without jubilation for some Minnesota Wild recognition. No Wild player was named as a finalist for the award given to the best defensive forward, but there was a couple of names on the final voting list.

Eriksson Ek played through a knee injury he suffered during Wednesday's Game 6 win over the Golden Knights, Jessi Pierce of The Athletic reports. Eriksson Ek's ice time went from 17:15 in Game 6 to just 14:45 in Friday's Game 7, which could have something to do with the banged-up knee the 24-year-old forward was playing on. Nonetheless, Eriksson Ek's injury won't require surgery, so he should be fully fit ahead of next season's training camp. The Swedish pivot finished the campaign with 19 goals, 30 points and 119 shots on net through 56 contests.

The Minnesota Wild shouldn’t regret taking Joel Eriksson Ek over Brock Boeser in the first round of the 2015 NHL Entry Draft. Boeser had an immediate impact with the Vancouver Canucks, and it has taken time for Eriksson Ek to develop, but the patience has paid off this season. It has taken time for the defensively sound center to activate his offensive game and become one of the league’s best two-way centers, filling an immediate need for a team that could use better play up the middle.

Eriksson Ek produced an assist, four hits and two PIM in Friday's 6-2 loss to the Golden Knights in Game 7. Eriksson Ek's shot was deflected to Zach Parise, who used a between-the-legs backhand to score the Wild's first goal. The 24-year-old Eriksson Ek was kept quiet with three points in seven games against Vegas. The Swede added 21 shots on net, 32 hits and six blocked shots during the first round.

Eriksson Ek scored a goal on three shots and added four hits in Thursday's 5-2 loss to the Golden Knights in Game 3. Eriksson Ek gave the Wild a 2-0 lead in the first period with his second goal of the postseason. He had another tally overturned for offside, which proved to be the turning point in the contest as the Wild's energy sagged while the Golden Knights took over. The Swede has two goals, 18 hits and 11 shots on net through three postseason outings.

LAS VEGAS — For as long as Wild center Joel Eriksson Ek has been in the NHL, he has been endlessly compared to Vancouver Canucks winger Brock Boeser. That’s what happens when the hometown team passes on the hometown kid. The players have been intertwined since the 2015 NHL Draft...

Wild teammates rushed off the bench and to the right corner of the Vegas Golden Knights offensive zone on Sunday afternoon, mobbing Joel Eriksson Ek, who wore a smile from ear to ear and let out howls of joy. "That's probably the most excitement you're gonna see out of him,...

After 63 minutes filled with highlight reel saves, Joel Eriksson Ek finally got a puck past Marc-Andre Fleury in overtime to give the Minnesota Wild a 1-0 series lead. It took nearly 63 minutes for a goal to be scored in Game 1 between the Minnesota Wild and Vegas Golden Knights. But it sure wasn’t due to a lack of effort. The two teams combined for 72 shots on goal and 128 shot attempts. Joel Eriksson Ek had the 72nd shot on goal and it wound up being the one that ended the game.

Joel Eriksson Ek's parents never miss a Wild game. Puck drop is usually in the middle of the night in Sweden, like 2 or 3 a.m., but Clas and Anna either stay up or catch the action first thing in the morning. What they have seen this season is Joel...