Future is bright for Coyotes' Oliver Ekman-Larsson

CALGARY – Even if he doesn't rewrite the record – he still has two games to do so – the standard set this season by Coyotes defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson would seem to require an even more impressive encore.

"Don't expect me to score 23 goals every year," Ekman-Larsson said with a smile.

OK, he might have a point.

It's probably unfair to anticipate Ekman-Larsson, who was held off the score sheet in Tuesday's 3-2 loss to the Flames, to continue to up his goal production from the previous year. But after tying Phil Housley's franchise record for most goals scored in a season by a defenseman (23) as a 23-year-old, it is interesting to wonder what the future holds for the cornerstone of the team's blue line.

As far as coach Dave Tippett is concerned, Ekman-Larsson's potential splits off into two facets with the most tangible one being his growth on the ice.

"He'll continue to get better – situations, reads, goal scoring," Tippett explained.

But the other arm of Ekman-Larsson's development will be his role as a leader. And that's a responsibility he's already started to embrace.

"That's where he's come a long way the last few months because he's very committed to this organization," Tippett said. "He, like everybody else, is awful frustrated with the way the year's gone and is very committed to making sure he does the work to make himself better. But he makes sure his teammates are doing the work to make sure this doesn't happen again.

"He's an excellent player growing into an excellent leader."

New beginning

The unpredictability of the waiver wire is never desirable, but it could have been worse on defenseman David Schlemko.

After all, he's in the thick of a playoff race with the Flames.

"I'm just lucky I've landed here, and it's been good so far," he said.

Schlemko's journey through the Western Conference started when the Stars claimed his off waivers in January from the Coyotes, ending an almost eight-year stint with the organization.

"I was there for a long time, and I appreciate them giving me a chance to start my career there," Schlemko said.

Schlemko's stay in Dallas was brief; he played only five games before he was, once again, placed on waivers. The Flames scooped him up March 1 and after making his debut March 5, Schlemko hasn't left the lineup.

And why would he?

In his first game, Schlemko delivered the game-winner in the shootout with a slick move that saw him tuck the puck around Bruins goalie Tuukka Rask with his backhand.

"I used it all the time in junior," said Schlemko, who regularly shined in shootout drills during Coyotes practices. "I watched for seven rounds before I went and just watching how Rask played, I thought it might work. Their guy missed, so I knew it was for the win. So I might as well give it a try. So it was a good way to kind of make a first impression with the guys."

Schlemko had a similar impact with the Coyotes in 2013 when he scored a shootout winner for the Coyotes in a win over the Blackhawks to keep their playoff hopes alive.

"I've seen it before in practice," Tippett said of the move. "He's unbelievable."

Year 1 success

Back in October, Flames General Manager Brad Treliving was solely focused on adjusting to the organization and the people involved in it.

But he doesn't mind the fact that six months later, Calgary is jostling for a playoff berth in the final week of the season in his first year with the team.

"We haven't accomplished anything yet," said Treliving, who took the vacant GM post in Calgary after seven seasons as the Coyotes' Assistant General Manager. "We've gotten to a point where the last week is meaningful, which is great to be in, but there's lots of work to do."

With the win over the Coyotes, the Flames maintained hold of the third seed in the Pacific Division and upped their lead over the Kings to two points. If they do somehow slip out of a spot, this season certainly still positions the team to remain competitive in the West.

"To have a chance to win in this league, the first goal is to get in the playoffs," Treliving said. "I think it's still difficult to do. I think if you get to this point, you really want to finish the job. It's a process, and I think going through this process it's been eye-opening for our young players.

"A lot of them, they've gone through it at the junior level, the college level, but seeing how the game changes and how difficult the game can be this time of year, you can only experience it by going through it. So that's the goal – the goal is to be in a position where you've got a chance."

Lottery watch

Only two points separate the No. 29 Coyotes and the No. 30 Sabres after Tuesday's result.

The Coyotes (56 points) have only two games to go (against the Canucks and Ducks), while the Sabres (54 points after beating the Hurricanes 4-3 on Monday) have a back-to-back Friday and Saturday against the Blue Jackets and Penguins.

The team that finishes 30th will secure the best odds to win the draft lottery (20 percent) and guarantee itself one of the first two picks.