The Arizona Coyotes have agreed to an eight-year contract extension with star defenceman Oliver Ekman-Larsson. The deal is believed to carry an average annual value of $8.25 million.
Ekman-Larsson, who will turn 27 in July, is entering the final year of a six-year, $33 million contract and could have become an unrestricted free agent next summer. The Coyotes can’t officially sign him to an extension until July 1 when the last year of his current contract kicks in.
At the NHL Combine earlier this month, GM John Chayka appeared confident the team would come to an agreement with its franchise player.
“We’ve been very clear that we’re willing to do whatever we possibly can to have him come back, and (we) think he’s a heck of a defenceman, heck of a player, heck of a person,” Chayka said on June 2.
Ekman-Larsson is the longest-serving Coyote and has been the cornerstone of the team’s defence since breaking into the league in 2010. He has 102 goals and 290 points in 576 games for his career.
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