Last year the Arizona Coyotes season could be summed up in one word….disappointment. Although expectations were high from many to begin the year (including myself), the health of Antti Raanta and a new system under head coach Rick Tocchet lead the Coyotes to one of the worst starts in NHL history.
The Arizona Coyotes did not record a win until the last week of October and it took them well into November to notch their first regulation victory. Teams that do this, don’t usually tend to make the playoffs, and that was no exception for the Coyotes last season. However, that’s in the past, old news, forget about it, whatever helps you sleep at night.
With many changes to the roster and a new mentality in the dressing room, one thing remains unclear. Who is going to lead this team to the playoffs?
Say it with me!
The Contract
Many fans, including myself, had been keeping a watchful eye on his six-year, $33 million contract and it’s inevitable end. I’d like to say I was optimistic that he was going to resign, but I was preparing for the worst.
On July 1st, the Arizona Coyotes officially announced the signing of Oliver Ekman-Larsson for 8 years (9 total) with an AAV of $8.25 million. His commitment and belief in this team are reminiscent of former Coyote captain, Shane Doan.
With Ekman-Larsson locked up for 9 more seasons, a young core, and a new head coach, the time is right for the Coyotes to name him as their captain and provide some much-needed stability to this franchise.
The Player
Drafted 6th overall in the 2009 Entry Draft, Ekman-Larsson had all the tools to become a top pairing NHL defenseman. One scouting report stated:
“Blessed with a highly gifted skill-set, Ekman-Larsson has all the tools of a future all-star defenseman. He is a tremendous skater who gets around the ice effortlessly and possesses the ability to create plays with the puck on his stick in any position thanks to his incredible mobility. He is also extremely poised with and without the puck, and never panics due to a high hockey IQ and strong overall hockey sense.”
I’d say that does a pretty good job of describing the OEL that we have come to know and love in the desert. Smooth skating, quick thinking, criminally underrated to this day, the kid is the full package. Ekman-Larsson continues to improve every year and shows flashes of brilliance on any given night. He’s a franchise player in my eyes, even if he’s not putting up Karlsson numbers from the blue line or in contention for the Norris every year. Over the years, he earned the respect of his peers and competitors. His growth as a leader has become very apparent both on and off the ice in recent years.
Dear Arizona Coyotes, This isn’t rocket science…Make OEL your captain!