Arizona Coyotes’ Oliver Ekman-Larsson expects to rebound from ‘off’ season
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WATCH THE LATEST ARIZONA COYOTES VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSSarah McLellan’s plus-minus against the Senators | 0:39
Coyotes insider Sarah McLellan looks at the plus and minus in the 3-2 overtime loss to the Senators.
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WATCH THE LATEST ARIZONA COYOTES VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSSenators rally past Coyotes for overtime win | 1:11
Coach Dave Tippett, defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson, winger Lawson Crouse and winger Brendan Perlini react to the 3-2 overtime loss.
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WATCH THE LATEST ARIZONA COYOTES VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSCoyotes winger Radim Vrbata reaches 1,000-game milestone | 1:17
Coyotes winger Radim Vrbata is set to play his 1,000th game Thursday against the Senators.
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WATCH THE LATEST ARIZONA COYOTES VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSArizona Coyotes Foundation Golf Tournament 2017 | 1:35
The Arizona Coyotes Foundation held their annual golf tournament for charity at the Whirlwind Golf Club at Wild Horse Pass in Chandler, Tuesday, March 7, 2017. Players Shane Doan, Max Domi and Brendan Perlini comment.
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WATCH THE LATEST ARIZONA COYOTES VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSSarah McLellan’s plus-minus against the Hurricanes | 0:44
Coyotes insider Sarah McLellan looks at the plus and minus in the 2-1 loss to the Hurricanes on Sunday in Glendale.
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WATCH THE LATEST ARIZONA COYOTES VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSHurricanes rally past Coyotes with late third-period goal | 1:08
Coach Dave Tippett, goalie Mike Smith, winger Max Domi and defenseman Jakob Chychrun react to the 2-1 loss on Sunday in Glendale. Sarah McLellan/azcentral sports
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WATCH THE LATEST ARIZONA COYOTES VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSSarah McLellan’s plus-minus against the Hurricanes | 0:34
Coyotes insider Sarah McLellan looks at the plus and minus in the 4-2 win over the Hurricanes.
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WATCH THE LATEST ARIZONA COYOTES VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSCoyotes react to road win over Hurricanes | 1:30
Coach Dave Tippett, captain Shane Doan, center Jordan Martinook and goalie Louis Domingue react to the win.
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WATCH THE LATEST ARIZONA COYOTES VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSSarah McLellan’s plus-minus against the Sabres | 0:28
Coyotes insider Sarah McLellan looks at the plus and minus in the 6-3 loss to the Sabres on Thursday.
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WATCH THE LATEST ARIZONA COYOTES VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSCoyotes react to their 6-3 loss to the Sabres | 1:02
Coach Dave Tippett, defenseman Alex Goligoski, winger Tobias Rieder and winger Teemu Pulkkinen react to the loss on Thursday. Sarah McLellan/azcentral sports
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WATCH THE LATEST ARIZONA COYOTES VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSRadim Vrbata, Shane Doan remain with Coyotes after NHL trade deadline | 1:33
Coyotes General Manager John Chayka, winger Radim Vrbata and captain Shane Doan discuss the two players staying with Arizona.
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WATCH THE LATEST ARIZONA COYOTES VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSSarah McLellan’s plus-minus against the Bruins | 0:35
Coyotes insider Sarah McLellan looks at the plus and minus in the 4-1 loss to the Bruins.
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WATCH THE LATEST ARIZONA COYOTES VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSCoyotes react to Burmistrov hit in loss to Bruins | 1:51
Coach Dave Tippett, captain Shane Doan, defenseman Jakob Chychrun and goalie Mike Smith react to center Alexander Burmistrov’s injury in a 4-1 loss to the Bruins. Sarah McLellan/azcentral sports
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WATCH THE LATEST ARIZONA COYOTES VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSShot Clock: Could they leave? Latest on Coyotes’ arena situation | 1:50
azcentral sports’ Jay Dieffenbach and azcentral’s Craig Harris discuss the latest on the Coyotes’ search for an arena and the Diamondbacks’ feud with the county over Chase Field.
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WATCH THE LATEST ARIZONA COYOTES VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSCoyotes react to Martin Hanzal trade | 1:20
The Coyotes react to the trade that sent center Martin Hanzal and winger Ryan White to the Wild.
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WATCH THE LATEST ARIZONA COYOTES VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSSarah McLellan’s plus-minus against the Sabres | 0:36
Coyotes insider Sarah McLellan looks at the plus and minus in the 3-2 win over the Sabres, Feb. 26, 2017. (Sarah McLellan/azcentral sports)
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WATCH THE LATEST ARIZONA COYOTES VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSCoyotes rally past Sabres in third period | 1:21
Coyotes coach Dave Tippett, winger Radim Vrbata, captain Shane Doan and winger Jamie McGinn react to the 3-2 win, Feb. 26, 2017. (Sarah McLellan/azcentral sports)
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WATCH THE LATEST ARIZONA COYOTES VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSSarah McLellan’s plus-minus against the Stars | 0:34
Coyotes insider Sarah McLellan looks at the plus and minus in the 5-2 loss to the Stars, Feb. 24, 2017. (Sarah McLellan/azcentral sports)
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WATCH THE LATEST ARIZONA COYOTES VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSStars rally past Coyotes for 5-2 win | 1:10
Coyotes coach Dave Tippett, goalie Louis Domingue, defenseman Alex Goligoski and winger Radim Vrbata react to the loss against the Stars, Feb. 24, 2017. (Sarah McLellan/azcentral sports)
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WATCH THE LATEST ARIZONA COYOTES VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSSarah McLellan’s plus-minus against the Blackhawks | 0:32
Coyotes insider Sarah McLellan looks at the plus and minus in the 6-3 loss to the Blackhawks, Feb. 23, 2017. (Sarah McLellan/azcentral sports)
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WATCH THE LATEST ARIZONA COYOTES VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSCoyotes react to 6-3 loss to Blackhawks | 0:55
Coyotes coach Dave Tippett, defenseman Jakob Chychrun, winger Ryan White and winger Radim Vrbata react to the 6-3 loss to the Blackhawks, Feb. 23, 2017. (Sarah McLellan/azcentral sports)
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WATCH THE LATEST ARIZONA COYOTES VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSSarah McLellan’s plus-minus against the Ducks | 0:38
Coyotes insider Sarah McLellan looks at the plus and minus in the 3-2 win over the Ducks on Monday.
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WATCH THE LATEST ARIZONA COYOTES VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSCoyotes hold off Ducks for 3-2 win | 0:57
Coach Dave Tippett, goalie Marek Langhamer, winger Radim Vrbata and defenseman Jakob Chychrun react to Monday’s win in Glendale. Sarah McLellan/azcentral sports
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WATCH THE LATEST ARIZONA COYOTES VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSSarah McLellan’s plus-minus against the Sharks | 0:41
Coyotes insider Sarah McLellan looks at the plus and minus in the 4-1 loss to the Sharks.
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WATCH THE LATEST ARIZONA COYOTES VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSCoyotes react to 4-1 loss to Sharks | 0:59
Coyotes coach Dave Tippett, captain Shane Doan, center Martin Hanzal and goalie Mike Smith react to a loss against the Sharks, Feb. 18, 2017. (Sarah McLellan/azcentral sports)
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WATCH THE LATEST ARIZONA COYOTES VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSSarah McLellan’s plus-minus against the Kings | 0:33
Coyotes insider Sarah McLellan looks at the plus and minus in the 5-3 win over the Kings. (Sarah McLellan/azcentral sports)
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WATCH THE LATEST ARIZONA COYOTES VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSArizona Coyotes hold off Los Angeles Kings in third for 5-3 win | 1:20
Coyotes’ coach Dave Tippett, winger Jordan Martinook, winger Brendan Perlini and goalie Mike Smith react to a win against the Kings, Feb. 16, 2017. (Sarah McLellan/azcentral sports)
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WATCH THE LATEST ARIZONA COYOTES VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSSarah McLellan’s plus-minus against the Oilers | 0:38
Coyotes insider Sarah McLellan looks at the plus and minus in the 5-2 loss to the Oilers.
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WATCH THE LATEST ARIZONA COYOTES VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSOilers overwhelm Coyotes 5-2 | 1:14
Coach Dave Tippett, goalie Louis Domingue, center Martin Hanzal, defenseman Alex Goligoski and defenseman Luke Schenn react to the 5-2 loss. Sarah McLellan/azcentral sports
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WATCH THE LATEST ARIZONA COYOTES VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSSarah McLellan’s plus-minus against the Flames | 0:49
Coyotes insider Sarah McLellan looks at the plus and minus in the 5-0 win over the Flames.
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WATCH THE LATEST ARIZONA COYOTES VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSCoyotes break out in win over Flames | 0:58
Coyotes coach Dave Tippett, goalie Mike Smith, center Christian Dvorak and winger Ryan White talk about the Coyotes’ 5-0 win over the Flames on Monday. Sarah McLellan/azcentral sports
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WATCH THE LATEST ARIZONA COYOTES VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSSarah McLellan’s plus-minus against the Penguins | 0:51
Coyotes insider Sarah McLellan looks at the plus and minus in the 4-3 overtime win over the Penguins.
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WATCH THE LATEST ARIZONA COYOTES VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSCoyotes react to overtime win over the Penguins | 0:53
Coach Dave Tippett, defenseman Connor Murphy, center Martin Hanzal and goalie Mike Smith react to the 4-3 win.
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WATCH THE LATEST ARIZONA COYOTES VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSSidney Crosby closing in on 1,000 career points | 1:02
Penguins captain Sidney Crosby is only two points shy of 1,000 for his careee entering Saturday’s game against the Coyotes. Video: Sarah McLellan/azcentral sports
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WATCH THE LATEST ARIZONA COYOTES VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSHockey phenom from UAE takes the ice with the Capitals | 0:35
The Washington Capitals hosted United Arab Emirates native and hockey phenom Fatima Al Ali. Time_Sports
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WATCH THE LATEST ARIZONA COYOTES VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSArizona Cardinals Larry Fitzgerald skates for the first time with Shane Doan | 1:24
Arizona Cardinals’ Larry Fitzgerald skates for the first time with Arizona Coyotes’ Shane Doan. (Rob Schumacher/azcentral sports)
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WATCH THE LATEST ARIZONA COYOTES VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSCoyotes bring their dads on the road to San Jose | 1:10
For the first time, the Coyotes brought their dads on a road trip.
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WATCH THE LATEST ARIZONA COYOTES VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSCoyotes goalie Mike Smith on memorable All-Star Game experience | 1:13
Coyotes goalie Mike Smith reflects on his experience at the NHL All-Star Game on Monday. Sarah McLellan/azcentral sports
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WATCH THE LATEST ARIZONA COYOTES VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSCoyotes captain Shane Doan not ruling out trade possibility | 1:18
Coyotes captain Shane Doan discusses the possibility of seeking a trade this season. Sarah McLellan/azcentral sports
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There’s the team-worst minus-23, an unflattering shot differential – particularly for a playmaking defenseman – and the drop in production.
All suggest a down season for the Coyotes’ Oliver Ekman-Larsson, an assessment he agrees with when he reflects on his play with about a month left on the schedule.
“I think I haven’t been playing bad, and I haven’t been playing very good,” he said. “You can consider it an off year.”
But there’s also the fact Ekman-Larsson played through injury while feeling the frustration of yet another playoff-less trek – all the while bearing in mind he’s a role model for a growing cast of rookies.
And while these numbers and experiences from the past five months have culminated in the most adversity he’s faced in the NHL, Ekman-Larsson is confident he’ll rebound.
“It’s how you really handle it,” he said. “If you say to yourself, ‘I’m going to keep playing like this,’ then you will. If you tell yourself, ‘You’re going to get better,’ you will get better. I feel like I’m going to get better, and I know it and I’m going to work hard to get better. That’s the player and person I am.”
Arizona’s offensive leader the previous two seasons, Ekman-Larsson is on pace for his lowest point total since 2013.
Five teammates had more than his 10 goals entering Saturday’s game against the Devils, and his 34 points sat second to winger Radim Vrbata’s output – which was on the brink of 50.
His shots are way down from the paces he set the past two years, when he eclipsed the 20-goal plateau. And while that’s a standard Ekman-Larsson said isn’t realistic to expect every season, it could explain the fewer offensive contributions. So perhaps could the broken left thumb he played with for six weeks after suffering the injury Nov. 29 against the Sharks.
“It’s tough,” he said. “Obviously, you can’t really do the things that you want to do. You have to switch up your game a little bit, and maybe I was more of a passer for six weeks than a shooter.”
Although he said he had the option to not play, Ekman-Larsson hasn’t missed a single game. He didn’t want to take “the easy way out” and chose to continue suiting up. And while the injury was certainly a factor, he doesn’t blame it for his performance.
“I felt like I could still be out on the ice and adapt my game to that situation,” he said. “I think that’s something you will have as long as you play in the league, that you are able to battle through, and I’ve battled through a lot of stuff over the years. I feel that helps you, too, and realize you just have to find a way to be the best player every day, and you’re not going to feel 100 percent every night.”
Ekman-Larsson’s struggles, however, haven’t been limited to the offensive zone.
Aside from an eyesore of a plus-minus, a stat “he’d love to do something about” while acknowledging it includes empty-net goals, turnovers have been glaring – especially since he’s carved out a reputation as a smooth operator in his own end, poise that typically enables him to organize a rush the other way.
Overall, the Coyotes have given up 198 more shots at 5-on-5 than they’ve managed with Ekman-Larsson on the ice.
“I don’t think I switched anything up or doing anything different,” he said. “It’s just you don’t get the bounces. That’s the one thing I’ve been telling myself that I’m not going to stop making plays. That’s not the player I am. I could do it really simple for myself and chip it out every single play and then it would be wrong.”
He’d rather go through a tough season now than when the team is contending for the playoffs, Ekman-Larsson said, and he believes when the team is ready for that pursuit, he’ll be on-point to stoke success.
But a four-going-on-five-year playoff drought has been a harsh reality.
“You obviously don’t feel very good about it,” Ekman-Larsson said. “It’s kind of hard to don’t really play for anything.”
Still, he has hope and the Coyotes’ youth has helped fuel that – an audience the 25-year-old, who has two full seasons left on a six-year, $33 million contract, is aware he has as a leader on the team.
“When I got in the league, I looked to Doaner (captain Shane Doan) every game we lost and how he acted or how he handled himself,” he said. “I think that’s huge, especially when we have a lot of young players. I feel that’s important.”
The remainder of the season is no doubt still significant for the rookies since every shift offers much-needed experience, but the time left is also meaningful for a veteran like Ekman-Larsson.
He wants to exit every game feeling proud of his play and like he did the best he could.
Because as much as this season has tested him, it hasn’t changed who he is.
“I feel like even if I’ve been hurt or if I’ve been playing bad, I’ve been the same person and the same happy guy,” he said. “That’s what I’m taking with me this season.”
Reach the reporter at [email protected] or 602-444-8276. Follow her at twitter.com/azc_mclellan.