Joel Eriksson Ek
Joel Eriksson Ek is a Swedish professional ice hockey centre who plays for the Minnesota Wild of the National Hockey League. Born on January 29, 1997, in Karlstad, Sweden, he has developed into one of the league’s most reliable two-way forwards since entering the NHL in 2016. Known for his physicality, defensive responsibility, and growing offensive production, he has also represented Sweden internationally, including a gold medal at the 2017 IIHF World Championship.
Joel Eriksson Ek Bio
Standing 6 feet 3 inches tall and weighing roughly 207 pounds, Joel Eriksson Ek uses his size and skill to anchor the Wild’s top line and penalty kill. He signed a long-term contract extension in 2021, committing his prime years to the franchise through 2029. Throughout his career, he has earned a reputation as a complete centre who can match up against opponents’ best players while still producing offence.
Early Life and Background
Joel Eriksson Ek was born on January 29, 1997, in Karlstad, Sweden, to Clas Eriksson and Anna Ek. He grew up in a hockey-playing household, with his father Clas spending 13 seasons with Färjestad BK in the Swedish Hockey League. That family connection gave Joel early and constant exposure to high-level hockey culture in the Värmland region.
He developed his game in the Färjestad BK junior system, skating for the club’s J18 Elit and J20 Nationell teams. While rising through those ranks, he attended Karlstad Fria Läroverk to complete his high school education, balancing academic work with the demands of an elite hockey schedule.
Joel also has a brother, Olle Eriksson Ek, who followed a similar hockey path and was selected by the Anaheim Ducks in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft. Growing up, Joel admired former NHL star Peter Forsberg, citing both his on-ice skill and his dedication to the sport as formative influences on his own approach.
Path to Hockey
Joel Eriksson Ek split the 2014–15 season between Färjestad BK’s junior squad and their senior team in the Swedish Hockey League, making his professional debut as a teenager. With the senior club, he posted four goals and two assists in limited action, while dominating at the junior level with 21 goals and 32 points in 25 games. On January 12, 2015, Färjestad signed him to a three-year first-team contract extension, a strong vote of confidence in his trajectory.
Heading into the 2015 NHL Entry Draft, Joel Eriksson Ek was ranked among the top international skaters, eventually entering the draft as the fourth-highest rated international player. He was selected 20th overall by the Minnesota Wild and signed a three-year, entry-level contract worth $2.775 million. Rather than jump straight to North America, he returned to Färjestad for the 2015–16 SHL season, where he recorded 15 points and continued his development.
Joel Eriksson Ek Career
Early Career (2014–2016)
Joel Eriksson Ek’s earliest professional work came in the SHL with Färjestad BK during the 2014–15 and 2015–16 seasons. He split his rookie year between the junior and senior teams, then settled into a regular role with the senior squad in his second season. His production against grown men helped convince the Wild’s scouting staff that he was ready for the NHL despite his youth.
His play in Sweden also earned praise from NHL analysts. Wild assistant general manager Brent Flahr cited Joel Eriksson Ek’s two-way skills as the primary reason for drafting him, while European scouting director Goran Stubb highlighted his great speed, strong shot, and excellent puck handling as the tools that would translate to the North American game.
Minnesota Wild Debut (2016–2018)
Joel Eriksson Ek made his NHL debut on October 22, 2016, against the New Jersey Devils, scoring his first career goal in that game and becoming the seventh rookie in Wild history to find the net in his debut. He quickly built on that start, tallying four points in his first four games and becoming the first teenager in franchise history to record three assists in a single game on October 26.
After a brief return to Färjestad to preserve his contract, Joel Eriksson Ek rejoined the Wild in March 2017 and posted seven points in 15 regular-season games before making his Stanley Cup playoff debut against the St. Louis Blues. The following season, he struggled offensively through the first 20 games, spent time with the Iowa Wild of the American Hockey League, and ended a 50-game goal drought with a tally against the New York Islanders on February 19, 2018.
Breakthrough Seasons (2018–2021)
The 2018–19 campaign marked a turning point for Joel Eriksson Ek, as he finished with career highs of seven goals and 14 points in 58 games while forming chemistry with linemates Luke Kunin and Jordan Greenway. The trio was dubbed the GEEK Squad by media, and their success prompted the Wild to sign Joel Eriksson Ek to a two-year, $2.975 million contract extension as a restricted free agent in August 2019.
During the pandemic-shortened 2019–20 season, Joel Eriksson Ek set new personal bests in goals and assists with 29 points in 62 games. The following year, after the departures of Mikko Koivu and Eric Staal, he stepped into the role of the Wild’s first-line centre and responded with 19 goals while anchoring the shutdown GREEF line with Greenway and Marcus Foligno.
His efforts in the 2021 playoffs against the Vegas Golden Knights were particularly notable, including a Game 1 overtime winner that gave the Wild a 1–0 victory. On July 2, 2021, Joel Eriksson Ek signed an eight-year, $42 million contract extension, cementing his status as a core piece of the franchise’s long-term plans.
Minnesota Wild Top-Line Era (2021–Present)
As the Wild’s top centre in 2021–22, Joel Eriksson Ek produced a career-best 26 goals and 49 points, including his first NHL hat trick in a 6–5 win over the Winnipeg Jets on October 20, 2021. He earned recognition from the Professional Hockey Writers’ Association, finishing seventh in Selke Trophy voting as the NHL’s best defensive forward, and delivered three goals and two assists in a six-game playoff series against the St. Louis Blues.
Injuries disrupted his 2022–23 season, but he still posted strong numbers before fracturing his fibula in the playoffs against the Dallas Stars. He began 2023–24 on a tear, recording eight goals and 14 points early on and becoming the 11th player in Wild history to reach 100 goals with the franchise on November 10, 2023. A late-February 2024 game against the Vancouver Canucks saw Joel Eriksson Ek and Kirill Kaprizov each score hat tricks in a wild 10–7 win that set franchise records.
Driving Style and Strengths
Joel Eriksson Ek is widely regarded as a prototypical two-way centre, blending physical play with responsible defence and a steady offensive touch. He excels in matchup situations, anchors the Wild’s penalty kill, and models his game after idol Peter Forsberg, using strength along the boards and a strong shot to generate offence. His willingness to block shots and play through injuries has earned him consistent trust from his coaching staff.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among his signature moments, Joel Eriksson Ek’s first NHL hat trick against Winnipeg, his Game 1 overtime winner versus Vegas in 2021, and his 100th career goal with the Wild all stand out. He also helped set a franchise record for goals in a game during the 10–7 win over the Canucks in February 2024, sharing the spotlight with linemate Kirill Kaprizov in one of the most explosive offensive nights in team history.
Joel Eriksson Ek Career Wins
Joel Eriksson Ek’s career highlights include individual scoring milestones, key playoff performances, and a major international title with Sweden.
NHL Highlights
Joel Eriksson Ek has recorded a pair of NHL hat tricks, including his first career one against the Winnipeg Jets in October 2021 and a second against the Vancouver Canucks in February 2024. His most recent standout win came in that Canucks game, where his hat trick helped power a 10–7 victory that set a new team record for goals in a single game.
He has also delivered multiple game-winning playoff goals, including the overtime strike that opened the 2021 first-round series against the Vegas Golden Knights. His three-goal performance in Game 2 of the 2022 first-round series against the St. Louis Blues remains one of the most productive individual playoff efforts of his career.
Other Wins & Performances
Joel Eriksson Ek won gold with Sweden at the 2017 IIHF World Championship, recording three points in 10 games. Earlier, he captained Sweden at the 2017 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships, finishing second on the team in scoring with nine points as Sweden placed fourth. He was also named Player of the Game during the 2015 IIHF World U18 Championships following a contest against Canada.
Joel Eriksson Ek Family
Family Background and Hockey Lineage
Joel Eriksson Ek’s father, Clas Eriksson, played 13 seasons with Färjestad BK in the Swedish Hockey League, giving Joel a direct connection to one of Sweden’s most storied clubs. His mother, Anna Ek, raised the family in Karlstad. The hockey tradition extends to his brother Olle, who was selected by the Anaheim Ducks in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft, making the Eriksson Ek brothers a notable pair of Swedish hockey talents.
Personal Life
Joel Eriksson Ek has kept much of his personal life private and remains focused on his career with the Minnesota Wild. Public information about his spouse or children has not been disclosed in verified sources. He continues to reside in the United States while competing in the NHL.
2025 Season Performance
Joel Eriksson Ek enters the 2025 season firmly established as the Minnesota Wild’s top two-way centre and one of the cornerstones of their long-term core. His combination of size, defensive responsibility, and growing offensive production gives head coach Dean Evason’s successor a reliable matchup centre to deploy in all situations.
With Kirill Kaprizov and Mats Zuccarello flanking him at various points and the franchise still in pursuit of its first Stanley Cup, Joel Eriksson Ek’s role in driving both special teams and even-strength play remains central. His track record of late-season surges and playoff production suggests he will again be a key figure in any push the Wild make for the postseason.
Looking ahead, the 2025 campaign offers Joel Eriksson Ek an opportunity to chase new career highs in goals and points while continuing to log heavy minutes against opponents’ top lines. His eight-year contract extension runs through 2029, ensuring stability for both player and franchise as the Wild attempt to build a consistent contender around their veteran centre.