Sarah McLellan

azcentral sports

Despite the performance review and ensuing questions about why he wanted the position, Coyotes defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson said an hourlong discussion over lunch Tuesday afternoon at the Renaissance Glendale Hotel & Spa next to Gila River Arena didn’t feel like a job interview.

“It was more casual,” he said.

But the meeting was still significant.

Not only did a portion of Team Sweden’s management staff for the upcoming World Cup of Hockey travel to Arizona to size up Ekman-Larsson’s credentials, but it was the first time the 24-year-old was able to have a sit-down conversation with his childhood idol, Nicklas Lidstrom.

“I’ve been looking up to Nick growing up, so it was kind of cool to just have lunch with him and get to talk to him a little bit,” Ekman-Larsson said.

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Lidstrom, who’s on the advisory board for the team, and Swedish head coach Rickard Gronborg took in Monday’s 6-2 win over the Canadiens and Tuesday’s practice, witnessing a brief example of what’s been going on for most of the season.

The Coyotes are striving to play meaningful games as long as possible, and Ekman-Larsson is a major reason that hope is still a reality entering Saturday’s homestand finale against the Blues.

“As he gets to become a more mature player, his game continues to grow,” coach Dave Tippett said. “That’s what we’re seeing.”

Ekman-Larsson registered a goal and two assists in Monday’s win, the fifth time he’s tallied at least three points in a game this season, and he added an assist in Thursday’s 6-3 triumph over the Stars to establish a career high for points in a season with 45 – the latest accolade in a season teeming with them.

His 17 goals rank second among all defensemen, while his point total sits fourth. He leads the Coyotes in average ice time (25:14), and nobody in the league has logged more minutes on the power play (303:04). What’s more, his seven game-winners have tied the NHL record for most in a season by a defenseman.

Considering that resume from just the past four months, it’s no wonder Team Sweden is considering Ekman-Larsson.

“Yeah, that’ a no-brainer for me,” Tippett said. “I guess I haven’t thought about who else they have, but I think Oliver’s got to be in that six somewhere or eight.”

This will be the first rendition of the World Cup since 2004. The tournament will kick off in September in Toronto and will scatter the best NHLers among eight teams (Canada, Czech Republic, Team Europe, Finland, Team North America, Russia, Sweden and United States).

Initial rosters of at least 16 players will be announced March 2, and Ekman-Larsson is hopeful he’ll receive an invite.

“It’s going to be tough to take a spot on the team, but I would love to be on that team because it’s not every year you get a chance to play, and we don’t know if there’s going to be a next time,” he said.

The Coyotes would appear to have a number of players in contention.

Wingers Max Domi and Anthony Duclair and defenseman Connor Murphy may stir interest from Team North America, a squad set to feature players 23 years old and younger from Canada and the United States that Tippett is helping out as an assistant coach. Team Europe might see wingers Tobias Rieder and Mikkel Boedker as options, while center Martin Hanzal and defenseman Zbynek Michalek have represented the Czech Republic in international competition.

“We’ve got some guys here that are certainly worthy of a look,” Tippett said.

Ekman-Larsson didn’t find out if he made the team during his meeting with Team Sweden brass, but he also didn't leave empty-handed. He made sure to grab some advice from the player he grew up admiring.

“He said just, ‘When you’re at the rink, be a pro and put in the work,’” Ekman-Larsson said. “‘That’s what you have to do when you’re a leader,’ he said. At the same time, you have to have some fun when you’re not playing hockey.”

Judging by Lidstrom’s accomplishments during a 20-season career – four Stanley Cups, seven Norris Trophies as the NHL’s top defenseman and the Red Wings’ captaincy – a chat like that in the midst of a playoff push probably can’t hurt.

“You want the team to be successful, and you want to be the guy that helps the team win,” Ekman-Larsson said. “It means more this year (than last season) to be the guy who scores a lot of goals and puts up a lot of points. At the same time, we have a long way to go here to try to get in the playoffs.”

Reach the reporter at sarah.mclellan@arizonarepublic.com or 602-444-8276. Follow her at twitter.com/azc_mclellan.

Saturday's game

Blues at Coyotes

When: 7 p.m.

Where: Gila River Arena.

TV/radio: Fox Sports Arizona/KMVP-FM (98.7).

Blues update: The Blues have won four straight and are 5-0-1 in their past six. They sit third in the Central Division with 77 points. The team’s past three victories have all been by a 2-1 margin. Goalie Brian Elliott has been impressive lately, going 11-3-2 since Jake Allen suffered a knee injury in early January. Winger Jaden Schwartz has three goals in four games since returning from an ankle injury that cost him 49 games. Overall, winger Vladimir Tarasenko paces St. Louis in goals (27) and points (49).