GM: Coyotes trying to extend, not trade, D Ekman-Larsson

Instead of shopping defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson ahead of Monday's trade deadline, the Arizona Coyotes are hoping to sign the 26-year-old to an extension when they are permitted to starting July 1.

"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," Coyotes general manager John Chayka said Wednesday.

Ekman-Larsson is set to become an unrestricted free agent after next season. The 2009 first-round pick (No. 6 overall) is in the midst of a tumultuous campaign that has him at eight goals and 21 assists, with a plus/minus of minus-36.

An All-Star this year, Ekman-Larsson has turned it on of late, recording six assists this month and four in his last two games.

Ekman-Larsson established a career high in points in 2015-16 when he scored 21 goals and tallied 34 assists.

"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."

Ekman-Larsson will carry a cap hit of $5.5 million for the Coyotes next season in the final term of his current deal.

--Field Level Media