On Tuesday, March 24, Seattle Kraken’s Adam Larsson will join an exclusive club: becoming another player to play in 1,000 games. He has had a long and storied career in the NHL thus far and should be incredibly proud of this accomplishment. Let’s look back at Larsson’s NHL career.
Larsson was selected in the 2011 Draft, where he went early. He was selected fourth overall by the New Jersey Devils, which put a lot of pressure and a huge target on his back, as he was coming over from Sweden for the first time in his hockey career.
With such a high draft number, the Devils didn’t give him time to adjust; he went right into the NHL. Larsson played in 65 games in his first season and recorded 20 points. He recorded his first NHL assist on Nov. 2, and just four games later, on Nov. 11, he scored his first NHL goal.
Larsson kicked off his second season in the NHL down in the minor leagues, with the Albany Devils, New Jersey’s American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate at the time. He played 37 games and recorded six assists. For the second half of the 2012-13 season, he finished it out playing with the Devils, recording three points in 26 games.
He split his time in the 2013-14 season as well, playing 33 games in Albany and 26 with the Devils. When he was in the NHL, Larsson only recorded three points. In the 2014-15 season, he played one game with Albany and recorded two assists. He played in 64 games with the Devils that season and recorded 20 points. This was the most games Larsson played with the Devils since he was initially drafted.
In the 2015-16 season, Larsson played his first full season. He played all 82 games and recorded 18 points, tying his point total from his first NHL season. He was a good defender for New Jersey that season, earning a plus-15 rating. However, the Devils thought he was better suited elsewhere.
At the conclusion of the 2015-16 season, the Devils traded Larsson to the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for Taylor Hall. Larsson spent five seasons with the Oilers, never once getting sent down to the AHL during his time there. He played in 329 games and recorded 68 points.
Larsson’s time in Edmonton was a difficult one, as he missed several games in the 2017-18 season due to the passing of his father. Robert Larsson was a Swedish hockey player and a big supporter of Larsson. The Oilers organization allowed him to take all the time he needed, which was a class act.
On July 21, 2021, the Kraken selected Larsson from the Oilers in their expansion draft. He was one of four defensemen selected from the Pacific Division, including the Kraken’s first captain, Mark Giordano. Larsson played in all 82 games in the Kraken’s inaugural season and recorded 25 points. He repeated the success in the 2022-23 season, where he recorded his career-high point total of 33 and a career-high plus/minus rating of plus-27.
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In the 2023-24 season, Larsson broke his 343-game Ironman streak to be there for the birth of his daughter. The decision was an easy one for him, and after the loss of his father, he wanted to be there for the big moments in his life. He still played an impressive 81 games and recorded 18 points.
Larsson currently has a new Ironman streak going, as he played all 82 games last season and has played in 69 games this season. Last season, he recorded 28 points, and so far this season, he has 19.
Larsson has been a major part of the Kraken’s blue line since their inception. He and his partner, Vince Dunn, are usually the first defensive pairing. The two work well together and often make strong defensive plays.
Since the beginning of his time with the Kraken, Larsson has worn an “A” on his jersey to signify that he is an alternate captain. This is a strong telling of the person he is, both on and off the ice. Larsson has demonstrated strong leadership qualities throughout his life, and the “A” is just a means to reward that.
The Kraken signed Larsson to a four-year contract with an average annual value (AAV) of $5.25 million ahead of the 2024-25 season. This season is the first year it took effect, so Larsson will be an unrestricted free agent at the end of the 2028-29 season. Seattle believes in Larsson’s ability, which is another testament to the defenseman he is.
The Kraken will take on the reigning Stanley Cup champions, the Florida Panthers, on Tuesday, March 24.
Congratulations to Adam Larsson on this incredible achievement.
