Coyotes aren't looking to trade Ekman-Larsson, GM says

Oliver Ekman-Larsson is not on the market heading toward the NHL Trade Deadline at 3 p.m. ET on Monday, Arizona Coyotes general manager John Chayka said Wednesday.

They are not listening to offers for the 26-year-old defenseman and instead will try to sign him to a contract extension when they are permitted to, starting July 1. He can become an unrestricted free agent after next season.
"I'm neither listening nor talking about Oliver Ekman-Larsson other than to his agent to try and get extension done, or at least have discussions to see where he's at," Chayka said.
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Chayka said Ekman-Larsson's play has improved after he went through some rough patches earlier in the season. He has 29 points (eight goals, 21 assists) and is averaging a Coyotes-best 24:02 in 59 games. He had an NHL career-high 55 points (21 goals, 34 assists) two seasons ago.
"Oliver's done a nice job here," Chayka said. "He's had a little bit of an up-and-down season, but for the most part he's been up, and as of late I'm just really impressed with how he's evolved his game. I think he's really taken to what Rick Tocchet is trying to coach here and the system we're trying to play, and some of that's just him gaining a comfort level with it.
"It's one that emphasizes puck mobility and getting up in the rush. That's played to his strengths. ... I see his game continuing to trend up and up, and I actually think we're starting to see even more of Oliver Ekman-Larsson than we have before."

Arizona (17-32-10) is 27 points out of the second wild card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Western Conference heading into a home game against the Calgary Flames on Thursday (9 p.m. ET; FS-A, SNW, NHL.TV).
The Coyotes on Wednesday traded forward Tobias Rieder and goalie Scott Wedgewood to the Kings for goalie Darcy Kuemper. Chayka didn't rule out making more trades before the deadline, but said he doesn't plan to do anything that would alter their rebuilding plan. Arizona has not made the playoffs since 2011-12.
"We think we've got a good group here," Chayka said. "We've got a good young group. We think we have some really good veteran leadership, proven winners, guys that add a lot of value to our team and help guide our younger players. So, in that sense, I'm not trying to derail anything or change course.
"Our visions continue to remain the same, and it's my job to be disciplined and really dedicated to what we're trying to accomplish and do here. So, to make any large-scale moves to alter our course, they're not a part of my plan, but at the same time you never know on a lot of things."