With the NHL off-season right around the corner and several notable trades having already occurred in recent weeks, the trade winds are blowing around the league. One of the more intriguing players who may be available is Arizona Coyotes captain Oliver Ekman-Larsson. Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reports that there is interest in the star defenseman, naming the Boston Bruins, Calgary Flames, and Edmonton Oilers as three teams that have checked in. However, he adds that there are undoubtedly more interested teams.
Ekman-Larsson, who comes in at No. 2 on The Athletic’s list of top trade targets, has been an elite defenseman in the NHL since he broke into the league full-time in 2011-12. A true two-way blue liner who is good for 40+ points and 150+ hits nearly every year, Ekman-Larsson plays big minutes and in every situation. He would be an asset to any team in the NHL.
However, Ekman-Larsson also comes with the price tag of an $8.25MM cap hit over seven more years. For that reason, The Athletic accurately states that there is some substantial risk in acquiring the Swedish star. TSN’s Travis Yost also warns that most defensemen begin to decline after the age of 27 and Ekman-Larsson, 29, has already shown some signs of slipping.
With that said, any team interested in Ekman-Larsson also knows that they hold all the leverage in trade talks. While the Coyotes don’t necessarily have to trade Ekman-Larsson, they need to move a player, or likely several, this off-season. Arizona is in the worst salary cap position in the league with only about $1MM in cap space and only 17 regulars signed. While the team can get $5.275MM in relief from placing Marian Hossa on the injured reserve, they are still only left with about $6.5MM and six roster spots to fill, including three key restricted free agents to sign. If the ’Yotes choose to move Ekman-Larsson, it would do wonders for their salary cap situation. Yet, they also stand very little chance of getting fair value back for him due to their desperate situation. For that reason, new GM Bill Armstrong may not want his first major move to be dealing away a franchise icon for pennies on the dollar.
For now, it seems teams are only kicking the tires and the Coyotes have not made a decision on whether Ekman-Larsson is actually available. However, in the difficult flat-cap environment facing many teams this off-season, there is no way of knowing what could happen. Ekman-Larsson could very well start next season on a new team and it might not even take a blockbuster to get him.
Your 2 weeks late to the party boys
7 more years at $8.25M. What a life.
If they just listened to “us”,there would be no cap hell.
My staff screams for profit sharing floor.
If they can unload that $ I will be shocked
Take a hint, Phoenix. Hall is just not that in to you.
Team who trades had better win Stanley cup in next three years or give up some bad contracts. Otherwise the will wish they had not made trade.
Very true.But who has the cap room,draft picks and players the yotes would want to make this trade.Maybe like the pen’s trade maybe a 7th rd pick.salary dump.
“Elite”? Really? Like the Joe Flacco of hockey, elite.
OEL returns to Tippett along with Raanta, and Fischer for Edmonton ‘s #1, Nugent-Hopkins, Neal, and Bouchard
They doesn’t really make sense. What second line oilers had was those two. Conner would be carrying the team again. Teams would key on on him and Leon.See what oiler young players can do.Don’t be foolish and trade young d men.Oiler’s have been trying to build a core there for years.I really doubt yotes would make that trade anyway.
Yotes probably do that with some retention on neal.
Neal has been hot and cold since Pittsburgh. Maybe they would. I just think Yotes need to move to Quebec or Houston. A new owner who doesn’t care yet again. Nhl need’s to cut bait in Arizona. I think Oile’sr go some other way than Larson
I could see the Bruins considering him if they let Krug walk. I’d personally rather pay OEL that money than Krug.
Didn’t think about that. Might work
Problem is they don’t have the money for krug. Would be tough to get Ek salary to fit without moving more money out. I liked him a few years back. Haven’t really seen him play much lately tho.
Yeah, Krug + Chara money could = OEL money but still may need to trade Krejci?
The Bruins could add John Moore, he doesn’t have much value but it would balance out the salaries a bit more. The B’s would obviously have to add value to get Zona to take Moore but they’re very desperate to move on from OEL’s huge contract.
How about OEL to Blue Jackets for Wennberg, Murray and 1st Rd pick. Jackets save a little to help sign key guys as well…
I doubt Jackets give up a first.Murray has become to injury prone.Need more scoring punch up front.