REPORT: Coyotes, Ekman-Larsson verbally agree to 8-year extension

The Arizona Coyotes and defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson have reportedly verbally agreed to terms on an eight-year contract extension.

Sources say the Arizona Coyotes have reached a verbal agreement on a contract extension for Oliver Ekman-Larsson.

— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) June 12, 2018

Ekman-Larsson had one-year left on a six-year, $33 million dollar ($5.5M AAV) deal he signed in 2013. This extension is expected to carry a cap-hit worth more than $8.0 million, which would make him the second highest paid defenseman in the NHL on an AAV basis—P.K. Subban is currently the highest paid with a $9.0M AAV.

The @ArizonaCoyotes lock up their star defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson with a 8 year contract worth 8+ million per season. #Yotes

— Kathryn Tappen (@KathrynTappen) June 12, 2018

Ekman-Larsson is coming off of another strong offensive season, scoring 14 goals with 28 assists (42 points) in 82 games. He has now scored double-digit goals in five straight seasons and ranks second among defensemen in goals (85) and tied for 16th in points (223) over that span.

Re-signing Ekman-Larsson was a must for the Coyotes, who continue to accumulate good pieces and appear poised to make
a push for the playoffs in the next few seasons. Ekman-Larsson, Derek Stepan, Alex Goligoski, Jason Demers and Antti Raanta are the only players in Arizona who are signed through the next three seasons. However, Max Domi is set to become a restricted free agent this summer and will likely sign a multi-year extension with the club.