Is Emil Lilleberg Better Than Oliver Ekman-Larsson? NHL Stats Decide

The career statistics tell a clear story in this D comparison. Oliver Ekman-Larsson holds the advantage in 5 of 6 key categories, with Plus/Minus representing the most decisive gap — a 3700% difference that separates these two NHL players. This is not a close debate on the numbers.

Emil Lilleberg's Plus/Minus of -3 compared to Oliver Ekman-Larsson's -114 represents a 3700% advantage — dramatically better than their counterpart in this critical category. It is the single most decisive number in this comparison and the clearest statistical argument for Emil Lilleberg's edge.

The most competitive category in this matchup is Penalty Minutes, where Emil Lilleberg posts 193 against Oliver Ekman-Larsson's 770 — a gap of just 299%. Emil Lilleberg can point to this as evidence that the overall comparison is closer than the final 5-1 tally suggests. In any debate, Penalty Minutes is the statistical ammunition for the Emil Lilleberg side.

Defensive play in the NHL is measured through a combination of offensive contribution and plus/minus rating. Elite defensemen contribute points while anchoring their team's defensive structure — a balance that defines the position's greatest players.

Oliver Ekman-Larsson wins this head to head comparison decisively — 5 categories to 1. The 3700% gap in Plus/Minus alone makes a compelling case, but the consistency across multiple categories confirms Oliver Ekman-Larsson's statistical superiority in this NHL career comparison.