Pedzisa mutsara unotevera: Pasina nzvimbo yake, musi wa20 Mbudzi 1999, Calgary yakatengesa Ekman kuTampa Bay Lightning pamwe chete nesarudzo yechina yechina (Vladimir Gorbunov) mu
2000 Entry Draft nokuda kwaAndreas Johansson. Akaita kutanga kwake neRightning mwaka iwoyo, asi akawana mapoinzi mana chete mumitambo makumi maviri nemasere. Kuti awane ruzivo rwakawanda, akabatana neIHL uye akapatsanura mwaka wa1999-2000 neDetroit Vipers neLong Beach Ice Dogs, achiwana mapoinzi makumi matatu nemaviri mumitambo makumi matatu nenomwe uye achiwana rookie yegore. Akavawo namapoinzi matanhatu mumitambo mishanu yeplayoff yeLong Beach. Mumwaka wa2000-01, mushure memapoinzi makumi matatu nematanhatu mumitambo makumi matatu nematatu yeDetroit, akayeuchidzwa kuNHL, kwaakavandudza pane zvaakamboratidza uye akawana mapoinzi makumi maviri mumitambo makumi mana nematatu. Zvisinei, akanga ane ratidziro yakaderera zvikuru yokuwedzera/kubvisa ye-15.