Oliver Ekman-Larsson, drafted sixth overall by the Arizona Coyotes in the 2009 NHL draft, is a player that has now begun entering the rumor mill as a potentially high value trade target for dozens of teams. The Arizona Coyotes have had an abysmal history, to say the least, with playoff success. Having won zero Stanley Cups in its 48 year history as an NHL franchise, while also boasting a feeble 41–78 playoff record in that span, the team seems due for some significant changes, albeit the right changes, if they hope to bring home a Cup.
Over the past few seasons, General Managers Don Maloney, John Chayka, Steve Sullivan, and now the newly appointed Bill Armstrong, have worked to help bring the Cup to Phoenix for the first time in team history. They have added young and upcoming talent in Clayton Keller, Jakob Chychrun, and newly drafted Victor Soderstrom to a core of veteran stars in Derek Stepan, Phil Kessel, and UFA Taylor Hall. However, despite these multiple trades, free agent signings, and high draft picks, the Coyotes still can’t seem to find an answer as they continually search for an identity and a way to put together the talent they have accumulated thus far. It may not seem like such a surprise, then, that GM Bill Armstrong is listening to calls from other General Managers around the league on offers for their star defenseman, and captain, Oliver Ekman-Larrson per Sportnet’s Elliotte Freidman.
Oliver Ekman-Larrson is a, 6'2, 200lb, 29 year old, left shot defenseman who has been the Coyote’s Captain and stalwart on defense since he first came into the league in the 2010–2011 season. In 723 regular season NHL games, the defenseman has combined for 364 points; 125 goals, 239 assists, and a plus minus of -92 according to hockey-reference.com. He has gone on to play in the post-season only twice; once in 2011–2012 and the second in the 2019–2020, wracking up a total of 8 points in 25 games; 2 goals and 6 assists with a plus minus of 0. He is able to play on the power play and penalty kill, provide offensive and transition, has been nominated for the Norris Trophy, and has been a two time NHL All-Star. Despite playing on a lowly Coyotes team, he has still brought size, skill, skating ability, and the offensive prowess he was so highly touted for by NHL scouts. Given his talent and experience, as well how much teams covet first pairing defenseman, teams will most likely have to give up quite the haul as Bill Armstrong will undoubtedly look to regain some of the assets the organization lost in their blockbuster trade for star left winger Taylor Hall prior to the NHL’s 2020 trade deadline. OEL would be a much welcomed addition to any team looking to bolster it’s d-corp and make a run at the Stanley Cup. The question is, however, who?
Zach Leach from Pro Hockey Rumors reports that the Boston Bruins have been among one of the teams taking interest in OEL. The Bruins, whom as you can see from my other stories, are an aging team who most likely won’t be able to make a run at the Stanley Cup again. Their Captain and Norris Trophy winner Zdeno Chara continues to defy time while playing in the NHL at 43 years old. Although Chara remains an incredibly respected player by his peers, coaches, and the rest of the NHL, it seems that time has finally reared it’s ugly head on the 43 year old defenseman as his role as a player on this team has changed, and ultimately, decreased. Additionally, after a heartbreaking loss in game 7 of the Stanley Cup final to the big and heavy St. Louis Blues, and being bounced twice in five games by the Tampa Bay Lightning, one thing has been made clear: outside of an old, worn down Chara, the Bruins lack size and physicality on the left side of their d-corps. Adding insult to injury, Torey Krug will most likely be gone in free agency, and defensive prospects Lauzon, Zboril, and Vaakaneinen are still continuing to develop with no word of making the jump to the NHL anytime soon (outside of Lauzon), let alone being able to play top 4 minutes. General Manager Don Sweeney, and team President of Hockey Operations Cam Neely, don’t shy away from the fact that the left side of the Bruin’s defense needs bolstering. Would Oliver Ekman-Larrson be the right fit next to budding young defenseman Charlie McAvoy? As appealing as it may be, I say no.
If you believe that this current core of Krejci, Bergeron, Chara, and Rask have one more shot at the cup, then this may be a trade to consider. If you believe like me, however, that the window with this core has come to a close, then I say stay clear, and here’s why. Firstly, Oliver Ekman-Larsson is 29 years old and in the prime of his career. Defensemen, however, can quickly take a step back as early as age 33 or 34. This may have GM’s wonder just how many good years left does OEL have left, some reporters and scouts argue OEL already has taken a step back. Additionally, OEL comes at a large cap hit as he is set to make $8.25 million per year through the next seven years according to Rich Graessle of Icon Sportswire. That is a large sum of money for any team given the flat salary cap the NHL will impose due to the impact of COVID-19, as well as a lot of term for an aging defenseman. The Bruins, assuming they do not re-sign free agent defenseman Torey Krug, have roughly $14 million in cap space for the upcoming 2020–2021 season. However, they still have decisions to make for their restricted free agents in forward Jake DeBrusk and defenseman Matt Grzelcyk. They will also have to consider the cost of re-signing their future number one defenseman Charlie McAvoy and fellow Brandon Carlo when their term ends in a few years. If they, like myself, believe that they truly need to start building for the future and that the Stanley Cup window for the current core has closed, acquiring a player like OEL would definitely bolster the Bruins d-corps, but it may inhibit them from future signings or additional trades for younger, budding NHL stars.
Secondly, what we haven’t yet discussed is the cost of acquiring such a talented player like OEL. With him still under contract for the next seven years, Bill Armstrong holds all the leverage over any team that expresses interest in the 29 year old star defensemen. Armstrong would most likely look for a high draft pick or two (a first and a second), an NHL ready young forward capable of top 6 minutes, and, most likely, some high level prospects. The Bruins, assuming they even have all of those assets, would most likely have to give up a player like left winger Jake DeBrusk, another first and/or second round pick, and a couple of young, promising prospects such as Jack Studnicka, Trent Frederic, or Urho Vaakanainen. Again, if the Bruins are looking to go for a rebuild and add younger talent (which at this point seems absolutely necessary), giving it all away for an aging defenseman seems….counterproductive, especially given how Don Sweeney has looked to add to their barren farm system while also freeing up much needed cap space by ditching contracts like that of the late David Backes. There is no question the addition of Oliver Ekman-Larsson would automatically bring much needed size, skill, experience, and strength to the Bruin’s d-corps, but at the same time, it could get the Bruins deeper into the salary cap hell many NHL teams face yearly and strip them of what looks like a very promising future for their young stars.
One thing remains certain, Bruin’s general manager Don Sweeney will have a lot on his plate this off season and will be faced with many difficult roster decisions. Will he look to go all in during the off season to provide his aging core with one more shot at the Stanley Cup? Or will he look to build his roster for the future and build around their young, budding NHL stars in Charlie McAvoy and David Pastrnak? As fun as it may be to picture Oliver Ekman-Larsson in a Boston Bruins uniform, it should remain a dream and not a reality.
