Coyotes 'will never' trade Ekman-Larsson for 1st pick in 2016

With Arizona native Auston Matthews widely expected to be the first overall pick in the upcoming NHL Draft, many have speculated his hometown Coyotes would deal All-Star defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson in order to bring the American home.

But when asked about the speculation Saturday, team executives were quick to shut that notion down.

"That will never happen," Maloney said, per Coyotes senior director of news content Dave Vest, adding that the team's most pressing need this offseason is "another impact defenseman." Ekman-Larsson was drafted sixth overall by Maloney in 2009.

"We're not trading Oliver for a draft pick," echoed team president Anthony LeBlanc.

The Swedish blue-liner currently leads the Coyotes in points for a second consecutive season, recording 20 goals and 31 assists in 68 games entering Saturday.