With the trade deadline rapidly approaching, we’ll continue to hear more and more reports about franchises being either sellers or buyers. Some teams are looking to bring special assets that could help them land a Stanley Cup, while other organizations recognize they could have the golden ticket to prospects and draft picks.
Arizona is one of those teams that will be certainly sellers at the deadline. Now, it may be hard to understand that a team so low in the standings would have assets, but the Coyotes certainly do.
The Coyotes are set to be in the running for the first overall selection in this year’s draft, which means they could land highly-touted prospect Rasmus Dahlin. However, rumors are circulating that the Coyotes organization are internally discussing whether or not they would want to move Defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson, according to The Fourth Period.
The discussion is that if the Coyotes were to deal Ekman-Larsson prior to the trade deadline and Arizona does not clinch the first overall pick, then it would set the team back once again. Another option is to wait until the Coyotes know their fate with the draft pick and then try and move Ekman-Larsson. Because if they land the #1 spot it may help ease the pain of losing their talented defenceman.
The Fourth Period are reporting that Toronto and New Jersey are the frontrunners to land Ekman-Larsson. Other teams believed to be interested are the Detroit Red Wings, Edmonton Oilers, and Boston Bruins.
Arizona could also gamble on re-signing Ekman-Larsson after next season, but if the Coyotes do not get the first overall pick this year, there is a good chance Ekman-Larsson will be out the door.
