GLENDALE, ARIZONA --- Phoenix Coyotes General Manager Don Maloney announced today that the team has selected defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson with the sixth overall pick in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft at Bell Centre in Montreal.
“We are thrilled to select Oliver with the sixth overall pick,” said Maloney. “He is a multi-talented defenseman with tremendous potential and we believe he’ll play a big role in the future of the Coyotes.”
Ekman-Larsson, 17, appeared in 39 games with Leksand of Sweden’s second-highest professional league (Sweden-2), where he recorded 3-14-17 and 32 penalty minutes (PIM). As the youngest player on his team, Ekman-Larsson also led the league with a +44 rating.
The 6-foot-2, 176-pound native of Karlskrona, Sweden represented Team Sweden at the 2009 Under-18 World Championship, collecting 2-6-8 in six games, helping Sweden to a fifth place finish. In 2007-08, Ekman-Larsson played in 27 games for Tingsryd of the Swedish junior league (Sweden-3), recording 3-5-8 and 10 PIM. He also helped Smaland win Sweden’s national tournament, TV-Pucken, in 2007-08. He recorded 4-3-7 in eight games and was named the tournament’s Best Defenseman.
NHL European Scouting Service:
“Oliver likes to play offensively, often carrying the puck into the neutral zone. He has the frame, speed and skill to dominate. He is a smooth skater and can handle the puck at top speed, but needs to use his size to his advantage more. He often quarterbacks the power-play and has a hard shot from the blue line.”
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