NHL Rumors: Oliver Ekman-Larsson being traded, Maple Leafs should consider Dougie Hamilton, and more
Anthony Scultore
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It looks like the NHL Rumors Mill is getting another big name added to it, albeit not an unfamiliar one. Oliver Ekman-Larsson is very likely going to be traded out of Arizona – finally.
NHL Rumors: Oliver Ekman-Larsson on the move
Last offseason a big name hit the trade market in Coyotes defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson. New Arizona GM Bill Armstrong was looking to make changes and asked OEL to waive his clause, which he did for only Vancouver or Boston. Ultimately, Ekman-Larsson handcuffed a trade and then killed it when he gave the Yotes a deadline they couldn’t meet. That was last year.
According to Elliotte Friedman, they may try another trade this summer. “Last time he gave the Coyotes two teams to deal with – Boston and Vancouver,” he explained. “This time around they are going to approach it differently. What Larsson told the Coyotes and what they’ve agreed to do is go out there, check the market, and they will bring a deal to him and he can decide if he’s comfortable going to that team”
Craig Morgan who covers the Arizona Coyotes confirmed Friedman’s report and added, “Ekman-Larsson’s camp has not given the Coyotes a specific list of acceptable teams, but there are certain teams to which he will not approve a trade and some of those should be fairly obvious.”
One of those teams believed to not be a desired destinations are the Winnipeg Jets. Per Morgan he states, “As a veteran player, Ekman-Larsson has earned the right to choose where he lives and that choice won’t be a city such as Winnipeg.” Morgan concludes that this time the two sides appear to make sure a deal gets done.
Maple Leafs should consider Dougie Hamilton
If there’s a big name on the trade market, the Toronto Maple Leafs will always be linked to said player. That may be even more so after another first round playoff exit. The name this time is Dougie Hamilton.
To accommodate a star of that calibre — and improve his blueline’s righty-lefty balance and his power play all at once — Dubas would have to carve out salary somewhere. Even if Zach Hyman, Frederik Andersen and whoever joins the Seattle Kraken (Alexander Kerfoot is a candidate) depart, something else would need to give to acquire all of Hamilton’s glorious underlying and overlying numbers.
Luke Fox, Sportsnet
Should the Leafs go this route, it could cost them Morgan Rielly in 2022. The 27 year-old defenseman will become a UFA next summer and will command a significant raise over his current $5 million AAV. Hamilton could also be viewed as insurance should the Leafs feel a new contract with Rielly is unreachable and they can trade him this upcoming deadline.
Canucks hire the Sedins
The rumors are about to turn into reality as both Daniel and Henrik Sedin will return to the Canucks in a front office role this week.