As a teenager, Larsson deflected comparisons to fellow Sweden-born defenseman Nicklas Lidstrom, who fashioned a sublime Hockey Hall of Fame career as a seven-time Norris Trophy-winner with the Detroit Red Wings.

Who could blame Larsson? Who needs that pressure?

Larsson, from Skelleftea in northern Sweden, was a precocious talent as a teen. At 17, Larsson had 17 points in 49 games with his hometown team in the Swedish Elite League, tying Tomas Jonsson's league record (1977-78) for most points in a season by a defenseman under 18. Larsson also helped Sweden finish third at the 2010 IIHF World Junior Championship.

Larsson's father, Robert, played nine years as a pro, seven for Skelleftea and another two in Germany. Perhaps Larsson's bloodlines help explain the poise he showed at a young age; with his smooth all-around game, he fit in seamlessly as a pro, playing effective minutes for Skelleftea for two full seasons.

Larsson became the first defenseman selected in the 2011 NHL Draft when the New Jersey Devils chose him with the No. 4 pick. At 18, he made the Devils that year out of his first NHL training camp and began a smooth progression.

In his fifth season, 2015-16, Larsson played all 82 games for the first time and tied for the Devils lead at plus-four.

The two-way defenseman impressed the Edmonton Oilers enough that they traded left wing Taylor Hall, the No. 1 pick in the 2010 NHL Draft, to New Jersey for Larsson on June 29, 2016.

Larsson was named an alternate captain for the Oilers on Oct. 4, 2017 and had his second 82-game season in 2018-19. He also helped Sweden finish first at the 2018 IIHF World Championship.

NOTES & TRANSACTIONS

• Traded to Edmonton by New Jersey for Taylor Hall, June 29, 2016.
• Claimed by Seattle from Edmonton in Expansion Draft, July 21, 2021.