Originally a second-round pick (56th overall) of the Minnesota Wild in the 2010 NHL Draft, the Wild drafted Larsson with a pick obtained from the Capitals in a March 3, 2010 trade deadline deal that sent veteran center Eric Belanger to Washington.
Larsson played only one game with Minnesota before being dealt to Buffalo at the 2013 deadline in a multi-player swap that sent veteran winger Jason Pominville to the Wild. Larsson went on to play seven seasons with the Sabres before signing with Arizona as a free agent on Oct. 10, 2020.
Over the course of his 474-game NHL career, Larsson has totaled 52 goals and 74 assists for 126 points. This season, Larson has six goals and 15 points in just 29 games with the Coyotes, easily the highest points-per-game rate (0.52) of any season in his NHL career. Larsson recorded his first career hat trick on Jan. 6, but he suffered a lower body injury three weeks later and has been on injured reserve since, missing Arizona's last 21 games.
Larsson underwent sports hernia surgery following his January injury and is nearly ready to return to full practice and active duty.
Buffalo began deploying Larsson on its penalty killing unit with regularity in 2016-17, and by the following season he led the team's forwards in shorthanded ice time per game at 1:58. He finished second among Sabres forwards in shorthanded ice time in each of his final two seasons in Buffalo. Larsson ranked second among Arizona forwards this season with an average of 1:49 per game in shorthanded ice time.
Although he displayed some scoring prowess in three AHL seasons early in his career, Larsson has settled in as a bottom-six forward whose value is chiefly in his defensive ability. He is capable of playing center or on the wing. Now in his 10th NHL season, Larsson has yet to get a taste of the Stanley Cup playoffs.
