Arizona Coyotes defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson's value continues to grow with leadership role

DETROIT – The hierarchy within the Coyotes is shifting.

That was made clear when management chose to ship out veteran pieces at the NHL trade deadline and go all-in with a rebuild that will give young players the opportunity to grab prominent roles as soon as next season.

But the decision has also shuffled the current order, and that has embedded defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson even further into the nucleus of whatever version of the Coyotes develops through this process.

"He's as talented as anybody I've ever played with," captain Shane Doan said. "On top of that, he's just an awesome guy and a great kid. He's exactly what you want as the face of your franchise."

Even in a season littered with failed expectations, Ekman-Larsson has showcased the ability to still make a difference.

His coast-to-coast effort in Sunday's game against the Canucks resulted in a career-high 20th goal of the season, which put him tops among all NHL blueliners (entering Monday's games). Ekman-Larsson became only the fourth defenseman to reach the plateau in franchise history and first to accomplish it since the team relocated to the Valley.

And it's very possible he'll match or even breaks the single-season high for goals among defensemen in team history. Phil Housley had 23 in 1990-91 and 1991-92 with the Jets.

"Thank God we still have him," goalie Mike Smith said. "… He's a game changer and without him right now, we'd be in a lot of trouble. So I think he's a huge piece of this organization and moving forward, he'll just continue to get better, which is scary."

But there's also an emergence going on behind the scenes.

Ekman-Larsson was appointed an alternate captain after the exodus at the trade deadline left the Coyotes with two vacancies, and it's a role he's taken to heart inside the walls of the team's dressing room.

"He recognizes he has to take more responsibility in that area," coach Dave Tippett said. "He's done that."

It makes sense that one of the team's best players would be a leader, but Keith Yandle was an adept sidekick to Doan. When Yandle was traded to the Rangers, it gave Ekman-Larsson a runway to launch that aspect of his career.

"Obviously, he took a lot of space in the room so I didn't really have to say anything before," Ekman-Larsson said. "And now, somebody has to speak up if you're not playing good enough or just to stay positive."

The Coyotes open a three-game road trip Tuesday in Detroit and it was there with the Red Wings that Ekman-Larsson's idol Nicklas Lidstrom married the two duties — leader and on-ice catalyst — beautifully for his six seasons behind the 'C.'

By maturing to this next chapter, Ekman-Larsson seems on the brink of carving out his own important legacy with the Coyotes.

"It's fun that this team and organization believes in me," he said, "and I want to be that guy."

Burke's job search

Reports surfaced Monday that goaltending coach and assistant to the general manager Sean Burke has been exploring front-office jobs outside the organization, and Burke confirmed he was granted permission by the Coyotes three weeks ago to talk to other teams.

Burke, in the final year of his contract, joined the Coyotes staff in 2008.

"I'm getting to that stage if I'm going to head in another direction, it's time to get going," said Burke, who's had conversations with eight to 10 teams.

Burke is not currently on the road with the Coyotes. He stayed behind to be with his fiancée, Christy, who is due to deliver a boy any day.

Roster move

The Coyotes reassigned forward Justin Hodgman to the American Hockey League and recalled forward Jordan Szwarz.

Tuesday's game

Coyotes at Red Wings

When: 4:30 p.m.

Where: Joe Louis Arena.

TV/radio: Fox Sports Arizona/KTAR-AM (620).

Red Wings update: The Red Wings sit third in the Atlantic Division with 89 points. They beat the Blues 2-1 in overtime Sunday, which was only their second win in their past six games. In their past 10, they're 4-6. The Red Wings own the league's best power play at 25 percent, but their offense has struggled lately. They have only four goals over the course of their past three games. Winger Henrik Zetterberg leads Detroit with 59 points, while winger Tomas Tatar has a team-high 26 goals.