ARIZONA COYOTES

Oliver Ekman-Larsson’s Arizona Coyotes career: By the numbers

Jul 23, 2021, 4:06 PM | Updated: 7:47 pm

Oliver Ekman-Larsson #23 of the Arizona Coyotes during the NHL game against the Los Angeles Kings a...

Oliver Ekman-Larsson #23 of the Arizona Coyotes during the NHL game against the Los Angeles Kings at Gila River Arena on May 05, 2021 in Glendale, Arizona. The Kings defeated the Coyotes 4-2. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

The Coyotes traded captain Oliver Ekman-Larsson to the Vancouver Canucks Friday, as first reported by 98.7 FM’s John Gambadoro. The Coyotes went 24-26-6 last season, and the team’s offseason moves indicate that a rebuild is potentially under way.

Ekman-Larsson was the Coyotes captain but had not had the productive seasons recently that the Coyotes had hoped for since he was drafted sixth overall in 2009. His departure ends a long-running trend of the defenseman being a part of trade rumors.

He leaves the Coyotes as one of their most important players of the last decade. Here’s a look at his career, by the numbers:

4

Ekman-Larsson ranks fourth in all time games played at 769 games played only behind Thomas Steen, Teppo Numminen and Shane Doan, who doubled Ekman-Larsson with 1,540 games played.

6

The Coyotes would often use Ekman-Larsson in advantageous positions, as he ranked sixth all-time in power play goals with 55 total. Another category that is led by Shane Doan with 128.

3

There were three players that were a captain of the Coyotes before Ekman-Larsson; Keith Tkachuk (1996-01), Teppo Numminen (2001-03) and Shane Doan (2003-17.)

40

When Ekman-Larsson was in his prime as one of the best defensemen in hockey, he registered at least 40 points in five of his six seasons from 2013-19.

7

Ekman-Larsson ranks seventh all-time in assists with 260, averaging an assist less than every three games.

20+

Included in that offensive firepower was Ekman-Larsson’s goal scoring. He recorded over 20 in two of those seasons, 23 in the 2014-15 season and 21 the year after.

10+

And both of those years included double-digit goal totals on the power play. The 2014-15 year was 10, followed by 12 in 2015-16.

8

Even as a defenseman, Ekman-Larsson’s 388 career points rank eighth in franchise history.

5

Despite Ekman-Larsson playing on some winning teams, his matchups often against the opponent’s best players hurt his plus-minus. His highest ever plus-minus was plus-five in the 2012-13 season when he was just 21 years old. He has been in the negatives for eight of his 11 seasons.

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