Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Oliver Ekman Larsson gets punished by the NHL

Brad Treliving, the General Manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs made interesting acquisitions this summer, and one of them is having a big impact on the Leafs this season: the Stanley Cup champion Oliver Ekman-Larsson.

The defenseman agreed on the terms of a four-year, $3,500,000 million contract with the Maple Leafs last summer and has already provided great services to the team. With four points, he currently leads the Leafs defensive unit in points and ranks sixth among the whole team.

Last night, Ekman-Larsson took part in his sixth game with the Leafs. He didn't add his name to the scoresheet but played a big defensive role in his team's 5-2 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning. He spent over 21 minutes on the ice, with a +1 goal differential.

With Reaves struggling to fill his enforcer role, others are stepping up. During the game, he had a big physical presence and laid a controversial hit on Lightning's Jake Guentzel. In a race for the puck, he jumped to hit Guentzel with his back and ended up sending the forward on the ice with a massive collision. After the play, Ekman-Larsson was sent to the penalty box for interference.

Check out the hit here:

In breaking news, he was fined $5,000 by the Department of Player Safety. Read their official press release here:

The game promised to be intense and players delivered. The Atlantic Division rivals could be competing in the playoffs down the stretch like they did multiple times in recent years.

Hits like these build rivalries. We can't wait to see what unfolds between the two teams throughout the season.