By Robert Brent -
When discussing underrated players, you often hear names like Aleksander Barkov (who is so commonly referred to as underrated that he can’t possibly be underrated), Sebastian Aho, Gustav Forsling, etc. While those players certainly deserve credit, Joel Eriksson Ek is also deserving of the title.
Eriksson Ek has consistently been an X-factor for the Wild, playing sterling defense while contributing offensively and adding a gritty side to his game, making him a formidable opponent.
While Eriksson Ek has been shutting down top competition for years, it was natural to wonder if that could continue. He’ll turn 29 this season (around the age many players start to decline) and dealt with injuries last season that held him to just 46 games. He also plays a fairly physical game and is often involved in plays in front of the net. Eriksson Ek’s minutes are more punishing than those of the average NHL player.
Fortunately for the Wild, the versatile center has dispelled concerns of a regression this season.
Joel Eriksson Ek has continued to contribute offensively, matching his career scoring pace with .55 points-per-game this year, an exact parallel to his career average of .55 points-per-game.
He’s accomplished that feat despite shooting just 4.8%, which should increase at some point this year, given his relatively consistent shooting percentage year-over-year. Since the 2021-22 season, Eriksson Ek has shot at a rate between 9.3% and 11.7%.
Eriksson Ek has also been an effective offensive possession driver. He’s leading all Wild centers in Corsi-for percentage (54%) and Fenwick-for percentage (55%). Eriksson Ek may never be the team’s flashiest scorer, but he’s still a crucial cog in Minnesota’s attack.
Of course, Eriksson Ek’s offense is the secondary tool in his kit. The most crucial thing he does is play shutdown defense, a trait he’s continued to accomplish this season.
Joel Eriksson Ek ranks 50th out of 429 forwards in the league in goals against per 60 minutes, and he’s done that while facing other teams’ best forwards. Minnesota’s fantastic run of games in November highlighted that dominance.
In a recent set of games, the Wild played the Colorado Avalanche, the Chicago Blackhawks, the Pittsburgh Penguins, the Carolina Hurricanes, the Vegas Golden Knights, the Anaheim Ducks, and the San Jose Sharks.
All those teams employ some of the top-scoring centers in the league. MVP candidates like Nathan Mackinnon. Breakout superstars Connor Bedard, Leo Carlson, and Macklin Celebrini. Even Sidney Crosby, one of the greatest players of all time.
Joel Eriksson Ek shut down all those centers. The following chart shows the top-line centers’ expected goals percentage against Eriksson Ek and against other Wild centers.
(Source: The Athletic)
Eriksson Ek’s stats are staggering and reveal how crucial his defense is to the team’s success. The Wild’s goaltenders deservedly got a lot of credit for Minnesota’s winning streak. Still, Eriksson Ek's suffocation of some of the league's most dangerous scorers also deserves recognition.
While Eriksson Ek’s complete control over play against some of the league’s top centers is noteworthy, it’s important to note that’s something he’s done against all of his competition this year.
This phenomenon is evident: no matter who Eriksson Ek plays with or against, the Wild generally play better than their opponents. There have been seven line combinations that have played more than 40 minutes together for Minnesota this season. Of those seven lines, Joel Eriksson Ek has centered the top three in expected goals percentage.
(Source: Moneypuck)
Eriksson Ek has continued to dominate in all the ways he did in previous years, but he’s even added new wrinkles to his game. The main knock on the center in past seasons has been his relatively unremarkable faceoff success.
While Joel Eriksson Ek is incredibly talented defensively, Selke Trophy-winning centers are expected to dominate in the dot. For example, Aleksander Barkov is a regular Selke winner or nominee, and one of the hallmarks of his game is his faceoff excellence, with a career winning percentage of 58.9%.
Before this season, Eriksson Ek had never won more than 50% of his faceoffs in a given year. However, he’s winning 51.5% of his draws this year. It’s not quite the dominance of a player like Barkov or Patrice Bergeron. Still, it’s a career high for a center who has managed to be one of the game’s most prolific defenders without that skill.
Eriksson Ek is still a weapon offensively while continuing to be one of the game’s best defenders. The center raises the floor of every line he plays on. He’s a stabilizing force for a team that is once again dealing with injuries down the middle, and he’s even adding new abilities to his skill set.
Joel Eriksson Ek may always be underrated, in part because Minnesota receives less media attention than other markets. While it would be nice to see the Swedish standout get his flowers league-wide, the most important thing is that he continues to be a key factor in the Wild's wins.
Minnesota is at its best when Eriksson Ek is a factor in games, a trend that has continued this season. If he keeps playing the way he has, Eriksson Ek should continue to be a crucial contributor far into the team’s future.
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