Joel Eriksson Ek Bio
Joel Eriksson Ek is a Swedish professional ice hockey centre for the Minnesota Wild of the National Hockey League (NHL). Born on January 29, 1997, in Karlstad, Sweden, he has played a significant role in his team’s success since entering the NHL in the 2016-17 season. Standing 6 feet 3 inches tall and weighing around 207 pounds, Eriksson Ek is recognized across the league for his strong two-way play and his reliable contributions on both ends of the ice.
Eriksson Ek began his professional career with Färjestad BK in 2014 and was drafted 20th overall by the Minnesota Wild in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft. Internationally, he has represented Sweden at both junior and senior levels, winning a gold medal at the 2017 IIHF World Championship. In July 2021, he signed a long-term contract extension with the Wild, keeping him in Minnesota through the 2028-29 season.
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-oriented household, where the sport was a central part of family life. His father, Clas Eriksson, played for Färjestad BK for 13 seasons, giving young Joel a close-up view of professional hockey from an early age. His brother, Olle, also pursued hockey and was selected by the Anaheim Ducks in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft.
Growing up in Karlstad, Eriksson Ek developed his skills on local rinks and followed the Swedish Hockey League closely. He attended Karlstad Fria Läroverk for his high school education while splitting time between Färjestad BK’s junior and senior teams. Among his childhood hockey idols, Peter Forsberg stood out as a particular favorite, both for his skill and his dedication to the game.
Path to Hockey
Eriksson Ek played his junior hockey with Färjestad BK in the J18 Elit and J20 Nationell leagues. During the 2014-15 season, he split his time between Färjestad BK’s junior team and their senior squad in the Swedish Hockey League (SHL). With the junior team, he scored 21 goals and 32 points through 25 games, while contributing four goals and two assists in six games at the senior level.
Midway through his rookie SHL season, Färjestad BK signed Eriksson Ek to a three-year first-team contract extension on January 12, 2015. Heading into the 2015 NHL Entry Draft, he was ranked among the top international skaters by the NHL Central Scouting Bureau. He entered the draft as the fourth-highest rated international skater and was selected 20th overall by the Minnesota Wild. Following the draft, he signed a three-year entry-level contract worth $2.775 million before returning to Sweden for another SHL season.
Joel Eriksson Ek Career
Early Career (2014-2016)
Joel Eriksson Ek began his professional career with Färjestad BK in the SHL during the 2014-15 season as a teenager. His combination of size, skill, and hockey sense drew attention from scouts and pundits alike. After being drafted 20th overall by the Minnesota Wild in 2015, he returned to Färjestad BK for the 2015-16 SHL season.
During that 2015-16 campaign, Eriksson Ek recorded 15 points and continued his development against grown men in one of Europe’s top leagues. The experience prepared him for the transition to North American professional hockey and reinforced his reputation as a polished two-way prospect.
Minnesota Wild Debut (2016-2018)
Eriksson Ek made his NHL debut on October 22, 2016, against the New Jersey Devils, becoming the seventh rookie in franchise history to score a goal in his first game. Head coach Bruce Boudreau praised him as a responsible player, and he continued to impress by becoming the first teenager in Wild history to record three assists in one game on October 26, 2016. After beginning the year with the Wild, he was returned to Färjestad BK in November 2016 to preserve his entry-level contract before rejoining Minnesota in March 2017.
In 2017-18, Eriksson Ek bounced between the NHL and AHL while adjusting to the North American game. He broke a 50-game goal drought with a goal in a 5-3 win over the New York Islanders on February 19, 2018, and finished the regular season with six goals and 10 assists for 16 points over 75 games. He recorded his first career playoff point during the 2018 Stanley Cup playoffs against the Winnipeg Jets.
Establishing a Role (2018-2020)
The 2018-19 season saw Eriksson Ek settle into a more defined role with the Wild. He finished the regular season with career highs of seven goals and 14 points through 58 games and signed a two-year, $2.975 million contract extension on August 21, 2019. His partnership with linemates Luke Kunin and Jordan Greenway earned the nickname the GEEK Squad, reflecting the initials of their last names.
The 2019-20 season was cut short by the COVID-19 pandemic, but Eriksson Ek set new career highs in goals and assists. He registered eight goals and 21 assists for 29 points over 62 games before play was paused. He scored his first career postseason goal during the Stanley Cup Qualifiers against the Vancouver Canucks.
First-Line Centre Era (2020-2022)
Following the departures of Mikko Koivu and Eric Staal, Eriksson Ek stepped into the role of the Wild’s first-line centre ahead of the 2020-21 season. He often played alongside Jordan Greenway and Marcus Foligno on what became known as the GREEF line, one of the NHL’s top shutdown units. He finished the season with a career-high 19 goals while averaging 17 minutes of ice time per game, and on July 2, 2021, he signed an eight-year, $42 million contract extension.
In 2021-22, Eriksson Ek recorded his first NHL hat-trick on October 20, 2021, in a 6-5 win over the Winnipeg Jets. He finished the regular season with career highs of 26 goals and 23 assists for 49 points and added three goals and two assists over six playoff games against the St. Louis Blues. His strong two-way play earned him a seventh-place finish in Frank J. Selke Trophy voting as the NHL’s best defensive forward.
Minnesota Wild Continued Growth (2022-2024)
The 2022-23 season was interrupted when Eriksson Ek fractured his fibula blocking a shot on April 6, 2023, limiting his playoff availability. He returned the following season and opened 2023-24 with eight goals and 14 points in the early going. On November 10, 2023, he became the 11th player in franchise history to score 100 goals for the Wild. On February 19, 2024, he and Kirill Kaprizov each scored hat tricks in the third period of a 10-7 win over the Vancouver Canucks, setting a team record for most goals in a game.
Driving Style and Strengths
Joel Eriksson Ek is widely regarded as one of the NHL’s premier two-way centres, combining size with smart positioning and a responsible defensive game. He models his style after Peter Forsberg, relying on strong puck-handling, a heavy shot, and excellent skating ability. His ability to play in all situations has made him a fixture on the Wild’s top line, penalty kill, and power play.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among his standout moments, Eriksson Ek’s first NHL hat-trick against the Winnipeg Jets on October 20, 2021, his 100th career Wild goal on November 10, 2023, and his third-period hat-trick against the Vancouver Canucks on February 19, 2024, stand out. He also scored a key overtime goal against the Vegas Golden Knights in Game 1 of the 2021 Stanley Cup playoffs.
Joel Eriksson Ek Career Wins
Joel Eriksson Ek has accumulated an impressive list of team and individual accomplishments since turning professional in 2014. He has represented Sweden at multiple international tournaments and has been a reliable offensive contributor for the Minnesota Wild in the NHL.
NHL and International Highlights
In the NHL, Eriksson Ek has recorded a career-high 26 goals and 23 assists for 49 points during the 2021-22 regular season. He has played in multiple Stanley Cup playoffs series for the Wild, including first-round matchups against the St. Louis Blues, Winnipeg Jets, Vegas Golden Knights, and Dallas Stars. Internationally, he captained Sweden at the 2017 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships and won a gold medal at the 2017 IIHF World Championship.
Other Wins & Performances
In 2025, Eriksson Ek represented Sweden at the 4 Nations Face-Off, recording a goal and an assist in three games. He was also named to Sweden’s roster for the 2026 Winter Olympics, where he posted a goal and an assist in five games.
Joel Eriksson Ek Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Joel Eriksson Ek was raised in a hockey family in Karlstad, Sweden. His father, Clas Eriksson, played 13 seasons with Färjestad BK, providing Joel with direct exposure to high-level professional hockey. His brother, Olle, continued the family’s hockey tradition and was selected by the Anaheim Ducks in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft.
Personal Life
Joel Eriksson Ek continues to make his off-season home in Sweden while playing for the Minnesota Wild during the NHL season. He has spoken publicly about the influence of his parents and his admiration for fellow Swede Peter Forsberg.
2025 Season Performance
Heading into the 2025 season, Joel Eriksson Ek remained the Minnesota Wild’s top-line centre and a central figure in their pursuit of a deeper playoff run. Coming off a year in which he reached the 100-goal milestone with the franchise, he continued to log heavy minutes on both the power play and penalty kill. His combination of size, defensive responsibility, and scoring touch kept him among the team’s most trusted forwards.
Eriksson Ek’s international resume also grew in 2025, as he represented Sweden at the 4 Nations Face-Off, recording a goal and an assist in three games. His steady play provided leadership for a Swedish squad that featured several of his NHL peers. The mid-season tournament offered a strong measuring stick for his form heading into the stretch run of the NHL schedule.
Looking ahead, Eriksson Ek remained a foundational piece of the Wild’s long-term plans under his contract that runs through the 2028-29 season. With linemates like Kirill Kaprizov and Mats Zuccarello flanking him, his role as a two-way force was expected to remain central to Minnesota’s ambitions.
