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The Arizona Coyotes will have a decision to make on defenceman Oliver Ekman-Larsson.

There is no shortage of suitors with the National Hockey League trade deadline set for Feb. 26 at 3 p.m. ET, and the Coyotes have to determine if now is the time to deal the 26-year-old blueliner, who can become an unrestricted free agent on July 1, 2019.

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While the Coyotes could hang onto Ekman-Larsson for the rest of this season and make a deal in the summer, when teams may be more willing to offer want general manager John Chayka wants in return, some teams are going to want the blueliner for two playoff runs, so Arizona will receive calls.

It’s believed the Toronto Maple Leafs are among the teams that have shown more than a passing interest in Ekman-Larsson. You can put the New Jersey Devils and Philadelphia Flyers in that group, too, but league sources said Saturday the asking price was extremely high.

Not only do the Coyotes want two high-end players off a club’s roster, but they’re also asking for a first-round pick. Seriously, what contender wants to do that? There’s no harm in asking, but the price may come down closer to the deadline. Ekman-Larsson is minus-37 this season and needs a change of scenery.