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Oliver Ekman-Larsson's Norris Trophy problem

Josh Cooper
Oct 15, 2014; Glendale, AZ, USA; Arizona Coyotes defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson (23) shoots the puck as Edmonton Oilers defenseman Nikita Nikitin (86) and center Mark Arcobello (26) defend during the third period at Gila River Arena. (Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports)
Oct 15, 2014; Glendale, AZ, USA; Arizona Coyotes defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson (23) shoots the puck as Edmonton Oilers defenseman Nikita Nikitin (86) and center Mark Arcobello (26) defend during the third period at Gila River Arena. (Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports)

NASHVILLE – Coyotes defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson holds a cup of coffee in a Gatorade cup outside of the visitor’s locker room at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena.

Breakfast of champions?

“Sure,” he gives a wry smile following Arizona’s morning skate

Whatever gets the Swedish minute-crunching blueliner going (he seemingly plays forever, averaging almost half-a-game of ice-time) that night works.

“He plays a lot of minutes in all situations,” Arizona coach Dave Tippett said. “He plays like an elite defenseman in the league. Players who play in that position earn that right and he does that.”

Ekman-Larsson’s skill as a defenseman is quite obvious. He’s got all the necessary tools.

Great stick? Check.

Excellent skater? Check.

Passing? Almost always tape-to-tape.

Shot? Solid.

Positioning? Sound.

Size? He’s listed at 6-foot-2.

But there is somewhat of a cautionary tale down the hall in Nashville’s Shea Weber, another elite toolsy blueliner.

The 29-year-old Weber is a three-time Norris Trophy finalist, turning him into the Susan Lucci, or Buffalo Bills, of the award to a degree. You can make cases for Nicklas Lidstrom beating him in 2011, Erik Karlsson in 2012 and Duncan Keith in 2014. But the fact that Weber has played in small, non-traditional Nashville probably hasn’t helped his Norris push with voters.

Is it possible that the 23-year-old Ekman-Larsson, who plays in Glendale, Ariz., will suffer the same fate? The answer is probably yes to a degree. But without playing in non-major hockey markets, players like Weber and Ekman-Larsson couldn’t develop under-the radar to the same degree, which ultimately has helped them become elite.

“That’s one of those things where around the league guys know. Even if he’s not getting the publicity through the media or whatever," Weber said. “We know he has been good for a long time, and he’s very efficient.”

Those around Arizona compare Ekman-Larsson, the sixth overall pick in the 2009 draft, to a young Nicklas Lidstrom – Detroit’s recently retired seven-time Norris winner. While the Swedish comparisons are probably the genesis of this, Ekman-Larsson is more like a bigger version of Ryan Suter, the smooth-skating Minnesota Wild defenseman.

Last season, Ekman-Larsson notched 44 points and 15 goals for Arizona while averaging 25:54 of ice-time per-game. This year he has three points in four games, and is up to 26:14 per-contest

“He is so good offensively and defensively. He’s one of the best sticks I’ve seen defensively in breaking up plays and making that first simple pass,” Arizona defenseman Keith Yandle said. “That’s when he’s at his best. He has one of the better skillsets in the league for a defenseman … the way he can skate and handle the puck, it’s pretty amazing.”

While his skills are obvious, there is somewhat of a PR component to the Norris. The award is voted on by the Professional Hockey Writers’ Association, and a lot don’t often see Ekman Larsson who plays most of the year in more westerly time zones.

Ekman-Larsson probably helped himself this fall somewhat by going to New York for the NHL’s annual interview tour for most of its top players. There, Ekman-Larsson got to hang out with some of the league’s best players, and meet the NHL’s top media personalities.

“It was fun. It was fun to be around such good players, superstars around the league,” Ekman-Larsson said. “It was nice to get away for a couple of days and clear your mind a little bit.”

Though it may be too early this year to start thinking about Norris possibilities, it’s clear that Ekman-Larsson may not be in this spot without playing in Arizona – where he can develop sans intense scrutiny from the media/fan machine like say P.K. Subban in Montreal or Karlsson in Ottawa.

Weber notes this helped his progress a major degree in Nashville where the city’s highest-paid athlete can walk down Broadway across the street from a giant banner donning his image without being noticed (I’ve actually seen this happen).

“It’s a tough position to come in as such a young guy, and all the analysis on it and everyone is going to pick your game apart, whereas with a forward you can get away with a little bit more,” Weber said. “If you’re a defenseman you’re getting beat and exposed. It’s a tough position.”

Weber, Ekman-Larsson and Yandle all say the Norris is an afterthought for them. Whether this is true or not, Ekman-Larsson seems to have a good handle on what can net him the award – namely winning real, actual hockey games during the regular season. The rest then takes care of itself.

“I think everybody who plays in this league, obviously defensemen, care about it,” Ekman-Larsson said. “I would love to win it. But I know if the team does well I’ll have a better chance to win it.”