OEL is off the trade market!

Defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson has complicated things for his Arizona Coyotes: if he were to be traded this offseason, he was only willing to waive his his no-movement clause for the Vancouver Canucks and Boston Bruins. 

And now, both teams have moved on, refusing to make a deal with the Coyotes for OEL. It sounds like he is officially off the market. 

The 29-year-old has seven years remaining on an eight-year, $66 million contract with an AAV of $8.25 million. Both the Canucks and Bruins would have had to move a lot of money to get him under their cap. 

It was reported earlier this week by Canucks insider Irffan Gaffar that the Coyotes were demanding at least one of the Canucks’ top prospects in return. That means goaltender Thatcher Demko, 10th overall pick Vasili Podkolzin or Swedish sensation Nils Hoglander.

If that was the case, we can understand why the Canucks pulled out. 

Ekman-Larsson posted nine goals and 30 points in 66 games with the Coyotes this past season. He added one goal and four points in nine playoff games as Arizona lost in five games against the Colorado Avalanche in the first round.

And now we can understand if things are awkward in the desert if indeed OEL is off the trade market and set to stay in Arizona…