Cheechoo, and he responded by scoring 29 points in his next 23 games, including a four-game span when he had three four-point games. During this season, he set a new career high for assists and points with 36 and 57 respectively, along with 21 goals in 76 games. On 20 July 2006, Ekman was traded along with goaltending prospect Patrick Ehelechner to the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for a 2007 second-round draft pick. Later in the same year, November 8, he scored a natural hat trick in four minutes and ten seconds in the second period against the Tampa Bay Lightning, setting a Penguins franchise record. Ekman dislocated his left elbow in a home game win (4-1) against Toronto Maple Leafs on 29 December 2006. He was forced to sit out for three months before he could return to the ice and made his comeback against the Ottawa Senators on March 6 and had four penalty minutes and -1, logging nearly 8 minutes of ice time. For season 2007–08, Ekman moved to Russia for play with Khimik Moscow Oblast in the Russian Super League. Next season, he signed with SKA Saint Petersburg in the newly formed Kontinental Hockey League. After two seasons with the St. Petersburg-based club, scoring 21 goals and 62 points in 83 games, Ekman signed a three-year deal with his former club Djurgården in May 2010. Retirement In what would be his final season, Ekman played 20 games, scoring 4 goals and 9 points before suffering a stroke in late December 2010. Ekman was hospitalized until 14 March 2011, when he was discharged and missed the remaining games of the 2010–11 Elitserien season. Subsequently, Ekman announced his retirement on 10 August 2011, at the age of 35 when neurologists of Karolinska University Hospital said it would not be safe to resume playing hockey. One year after the stroke Ekman participated in Vasaloppet to provide attention to the Swedish Stroke Association. He crossed the finish line after 08:56:00 (8 h, 56 min). Awards Awarded the Gary F. Longman Memorial Trophy (IHL Rookie of the Year) in 2000. Career statistics Regular season and playoffs International References External links 1976 births Calgary Flames draft picks Detroit Vipers players Djurgårdens IF Hockey players Espoo Blues players Expatriate ice hockey players in Russia Hartford Wolf Pack players Atlant Moscow Oblast players Living people Long Beach Ice Dogs (IHL) players Pittsburgh Penguins players