Who Is Joel Eriksson Ek? Age, Biography and Wiki
Joel Eriksson Ek was born on January 29, 1997, in Karlskrona, Sweden. As of 2025, he is 28 years old. Eriksson Ek has become one of the notable figures in professional ice hockey, especially as a forward for the Minnesota Wild in the National Hockey League (NHL). He began his ice hockey journey in Sweden before transitioning to the NHL, where his impressive skills on the ice have garnered him both fans and accolades.
| Occupation | Hockey Player |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | January 29, 1997 |
| Age | 28 Years |
| Birth Place | Karlstad, Sweden |
| Horoscope | Aquarius |
| Country | Sweden |
Popularity
Joel Eriksson Ek's Popularity over time
Height, Weight & Measurements
Standing at an imposing height of 6 feet 2 inches (188 cm), Eriksson Ek boasts a solid athletic build. His weight is approximately 205 lbs (93 kg), perfectly suited for the physical demands of professional ice hockey. His physique, combined with his agility, has been instrumental in his performance during games.
Family, Dating & Relationship Status
As of 2025, Joel Eriksson Ek's relationship status has been a topic of interest among fans and followers. He has been linked to several individuals over the years but has kept his personal life largely private. There are rumors suggesting he is currently in a relationship, but he has not publicly confirmed any details about a girlfriend or significant other. Eriksson Ek's family remains a core support system for him, often seen cheering him on during his games.
He comes from a hockey playing family: his father Clas played with Färjestad BK for 13 seasons and his brother Olle was taken by the Anaheim Ducks in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft. Growing up, Eriksson Ek's favourite player was Peter Forsberg due to his playing skills as well as his dedication to the sport.
Net Worth and Salary
As of 2025, Joel Eriksson Ek's net worth is estimated to be around $10 million. This figure has been primarily amassed through his contracts with the Minnesota Wild and various endorsement deals. His current annual salary in the NHL is reported to be approximately $6 million, reflecting his value as a key player on the team.
Following his second SHL season, Eriksson Ek attended the Wild's training camp ahead of the 2016–17 season, where he was paired with Jason Pominville and Jason Zucker.
He recorded one assist and 10 shots on goal through five preseason games before being re-assigned to the Wild's American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Iowa Wild, to start the season. Part of the reason for his assignment was due to Wild's salary cap issues and his immigration papers needing approval.
As his immigration paperwork had yet to be approved, he was not expected to make his AHL debut immediately following the assignment. He eventually made his debut with the Iowa Wild on 18 October against the Grand Rapids Griffins and scored his first goal with the team that night. He was recalled back to the NHL the following game.
Eriksson Ek made his NHL debut on 22 October 2016, against the New Jersey Devils, where he became the seventh rookie in franchise history to score his first career NHL goal in his debut game. Following the game, head coach Bruce Boudreau praised him for being a responsible player.
Over his first four games with the Wild, Eriksson Ek tallied four more points and became the first teenager in Wild history to record three assists in one game on 26 October. However, after his first four games, he would then go pointless in his next five.
After two games as a healthy scratch, Eriksson Ek was returned to Färjestad BK on 17 November, thus preserving all three years on his rookie contract.
Over 26 regular-season games with the Farjestad BK, Eriksson Ek recorded eight goals and eight assists for 16 points and added three goals and three assists for six points over seven SHL playoff games. On 28 March, Eriksson Ek returned to the Minnesota Wild for the remainder of the 2016–17 season.
Eriksson Ek stepped into a primarily bottom-six role upon rejoining the team and finished the regular season with three goals and four assists for seven points over 15 games. As the Wild qualified for the 2017 Stanley Cup playoffs, Eriksson Ek made his postseason debut during their first round series against the St. Louis Blues.
He made his debut in Game 1 of the series, where he registered three shots on goal in 11:04 minutes of ice time. He went pointless over three games in the Stanley Cup playoffs as the Blues eliminated the Wild in five games.
Career, Business and Investments
Eriksson Ek's career in ice hockey has been marked by steady progression. Drafted by the Minnesota Wild in the second round of the 2015 NHL Draft, he quickly rose through the ranks, earning a regular spot on the roster. Beyond sports, Eriksson Ek has shown an interest in business ventures, including investments in sports health, fitness, and ice hockey training facilities. His insights into player wellness and maintenance have made him an advocate for advancements in athlete care.
Prior to the start of the 2018–19 season, Eriksson Ek was expected to play on a line with Jordan Greenway and Charlie Coyle. However, an early season lower-body injury kept him out of the lineup for six games starting on 11 October.
As Greenway had been reassigned to the AHL prior to Eriksson Ek's reactivation from injured reserve, his new linemate on the fourth line was Matt Read. Upon returning from his injury, Eriksson Ek struggled to produce points and only accumulated one goal and three assists over 27 games.
In an effort to help Eriksson Ek regain his confidence, head coach Boudreau re-assigned him to the Iowa Wild. Over his five-game stint in the AHL, Eriksson Ek recorded four goals and two assists for six points, including two power-play goals and two game-winning goals. He was recalled back to the NHL level on 8 January 2019.
Upon returning to the NHL, Eriksson Ek was partnered with forwards Kyle Rau and Landon Ferraro and earned time on the team's penalty kill as a replacement for Eric Fehr. He added one goal and four assists over the following couple of games before being returned to the AHL in order to gain playing time during the NHL's mandated mid-winter break.
Upon returning to the NHL, Eriksson Ek formed an immediate connection with Luke Kunin whom he had played alongside in the AHL. Over their first four games back in the NHL, Kunin tallied four points while Eriksson Ek tallied three and the two were routinely praised by head coach Boudreau.
However, their momentum stagnated after both Kunin and Eriksson Ek suffered injuries in March. Eriksson Ek missed eight games before returning to the Wild lineup as a second-line center between Kunin and Greenway. The trio of Eriksson Ek, Kunin, and Greenway were dubbed the "GEEK Squad" by the media as a result of their last name initials.
He finished the regular season with a career-high seven goals and 14 points through 58 games. On 21 August, Eriksson Ek signed a two-year, $2.975 million contract extension with the Wild as a restricted free agent.
Social Network
Joel Eriksson Ek is active on social media, with a strong presence on platforms like Instagram and Twitter. His accounts have amassed thousands of followers, where he shares insights into his professional life, personal moments, and interactions with fans. His engagement with followers reflects a candid and approachable personality, further endearing him to his fan base.
During the 2017 offseason, Eriksson Ek trained alongside fellow Swedish NHL players Jonas Brodin, Oscar Klefbom, and Marcus Johansson while also adding 10 lb of muscle. USA Today listed Eriksson Ek as one of the top rookies to know for the 2017–18 season and a possible candidate to win the Calder Memorial Trophy as the NHL's Rookie of the Year.
While participating in the NHL's Traverse City Prospects Tournament, Eriksson Ek suffered a mild injury that resulted in him missing the first few days of training camp.
He recovered in time to play in the Wild's opening night game against the Detroit Red Wings, where he immediately found chemistry on the third line with Marcus Foligno and Chris Stewart. The trio scored the team's first two goals of the season 48 seconds apart in the Wild's opening night game against the Detroit Red Wings.
His production slowed down over the next 10 games as he accumulated only three points while averaging nearly 14 minutes of ice time as the team's third-line centre. After failing to improve on his three points in the first 20 games of the season, Eriksson Ek was re-assigned to the Iowa Wild on 21 November.
He recorded three goals and four assists for seven points over seven games with the Iowa Wild before being recalled back to the NHL on 6 December. Over the month of December, Eriksson Ek was paired on a line with Daniel Winnik but continued his scoring struggles.
After only accumulating seven points over 42 games, Eriksson Ek was re-assigned to the AHL on 26 January. He added one assist over one game with the Iowa Wild before returning to the NHL level three days later. After going 50 games without a goal, Eriksson Ek broke his scoring drought in a 5–3 win over the New York Islanders on 19 February 2018.
Eriksson Ek finished the 2017–18 regular season with six goals and 10 assists for 16 points over 75 games. During the Wild's first round 2018 Stanley Cup playoffs series against the Winnipeg Jets, Eriksson Ek was reunited with Foligno and Winnik on the fourth line.
He tallied his first career post season point, an assist off of Matt Dumba's second period goal, in Game 3 to help the Wild win 6–2. However, this would prove to be his only point of the series as the Wild were eliminated in six games.
Education
Eriksson Ek pursued his early education in Sweden, taking a keen interest in sports from a young age. However, like many professional athletes, he opted to focus on his ice hockey career rather than completing a conventional college education. His dedication to the sport coupled with rigorous training during his formative years laid a strong foundation for his successful career in the NHL.
Growing up in Sweden, Eriksson Ek played junior hockey for Färjestad BK in the J18 Elit and J20 Nationell league. He split the 2014–15 season between Färjestad BK's junior team in the J20 Nationell league and their senior team in the Swedish Hockey League (SHL).
While playing in the SHL as a minor, Eriksson Ek attended Karlstad Fria Läroverk for his high school education. Leading up to the 2015 NHL Entry Draft, Eriksson Ek was ranked 22nd among all international skaters by the NHL Central Scouting Bureau's mid-season ranking.
In the SHL, Eriksson Ek scored four goals and two assists for six points while he scored 21 goals and 32 points through 25 games for Farjestad’s junior team. In the middle of his rookie season in the SHL, Eriksson Ek was extended on a first team contract for a further three years with Färjestad BK on 12 January 2015.
Eriksson Ek earned praise by hockey pundits throughout the season, entering the draft as the fourth-highest rated international skater. Several hockey analysts theorized that Eriksson Ek would be chosen 19th overall by the Detroit Red Wings, becoming their first Swedish forward drafted in the first round.
He was eventually drafted in the first round, 20th overall, by the Minnesota Wild and signed to a three-year, entry-level contract worth $2.775 million. Rather than start playing with the Wild at once, Eriksson Ek returned to Sweden for the 2015–16 season where he accumulated 15 points with Färjestad BK.
