Report: Coyotes discussing 8-year extension with Ekman-Larsson

The Arizona Coyotes and defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson are discussing an eight-year contract extension worth more than $8 million annually, sources told Craig Morgan of Arizona Sports.

The 2018-19 season will be the final year of a six-year, $33-million pact signed in 2013, and he'll be eligible to put pen to paper on a new deal as of July 1.

Perennially dragged down by years of lousy Coyotes rosters, Ekman-Larsson has often been labeled as a trade target for teams looking to make a splash on the back end, but Arizona general manager John Chayka has routinely denied his availability.

Ekman-Larsson, who turns 27 in July, is one of the league's premier offensive defensemen. He put up 14 goals and 28 assists in 82 games with the Coyotes in 2017-18.