Some things need to be restated for people with short memories: the Coyotes are not trading defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson for Auston Matthews, Matthew Tkachuk or any other collection of players or picks in this year’s NHL Draft.

Somehow, the ludicrous trade idea still lives with an equally hair-brained reasoning behind it. It goes like this: GM Don Maloney was fired. He was the one who said the Coyotes would never trade Ekman-Larsson. Now that he’s gone, it’s back on the table.

First, an OEL trade scenario never was on the table. Second, coach Dave Tippett, who may gain a greater personnel role when a new GM is hired, doesn’t want to trade OEL. Third, assistant GM John Chayka, who is under consideration to be the next GM, doesn’t want to trade OEL. And oh yeah, the ownership group doesn’t want to trade OEL — a point that president and CEO Anthony LeBlanc drove home with force after the season.

“I am mystified at some of the pure fantasy that is written,” LeBlanc said. “There is absolutely, 100 percent no potential that we would trade Oliver Ekman-Larsson. It’s just not going to happen.”

Aside from Ekman-Larsson’s value to the Coyotes as one of the NHL’s premier defenseman, there are two more important points to consider. First, Ekman-Larsson is playing on a team-friendly contract with an annual cap hit of $5.5 million that will pay him $6 million next season, $6.5 million the following, and $7 million in the final year of his deal (2018-19).

Second, the team has no depth on defense behind Ekman-Larsson — in its minor-league system or on the NHL club. The Coyotes are not going to part with the one current blue line piece they consider elite.

“I’m a Canadian; full state of disclosure,” LeBlanc said. “I’ve seen it written out of Canada. Please stop whatever you’re drinking, whatever you’re smoking. It’s not going to happen.”

Aside from the fantasies LeBlanc referenced, we can’t come up with a reason this idea still exists, but let’s move on to sane speculation of the Coyotes’ draft strategy by examining a few scenarios that could actually play out on June 24 and 25 in Buffalo.

Who will Arizona pick at No. 7?

LeBlanc offered a glimpse into the organization’s thinking in the moments after Saturday’s Draft Lottery when the Coyotes found out they would pick seventh overall.

“Where are the areas where we really need help as a club?” he asked rhetorically. “There’s some really exciting defensive prospects in this draft right around were we’re going to pick.”

Nobody is talking specifics, but the best bet is that the Coyotes will address this dire need, even if that player is not ready to play in the NHL next season. None of the top defensive prospects — Jakob Chychrun, Olli Juolevi, Mikhail Sergachev or Jake Bean — are considered NHL ready, but the Coyotes still need to restock their bone-dry system with prospects after a few notable draft failures such as Brandon Gormley and Nick Ross.

What about a blockbuster trade for Auston Matthews?

We’re back in fantasyland here. No team has traded the No. 1 overall selection since 2003 when Florida shipped it to Pittsburgh so the Penguins could draft goalie Marc-Andre Fleury.

The Coyotes will no doubt explore trade options to see if they can offer Toronto a tantalizing package that does not include Ekman-Larsson but might bring Matthews home. It’s called due diligence.

The reality, however, is that Toronto needs a franchise center. The Maple Leafs are not going to trade Matthews.

What about the other hometown boy, Matthew Tkachuk?

If the son of former Coyote Keith Tkachuk is available at No. 7, the Coyotes will be glad to have him for the talent he brings and the marketing potential he provides. The latter consideration is secondary, however.

Stars are marketable. Their hometown is largely incidental. The only people who believe the Coyotes are over-eager to acquire Matthews or Tkachuk for their marketing value are the ones who believe the OEL trade rumors are real.

It is highly unlikely the Coyotes will move up to acquire Tkachuk when the prospects from 3-8, 9 or 10 are considered similar in ability. The only way we could see this happening is in a package deal. The Coyotes will not trade their two first-round picks for Tkachuk.

If none of the top defensive prospects are NHL ready, how will the Coyotes shore up their need for at least one, probably two defensemen in their top four?

This is one reason that the stockpiling of talent matters. There isn’t enough room for all of the Coyotes’ top forward prospects (not all of them will pan out, anyway), so it makes sense to explore a draft-day trade for a top-four NHL defenseman.

St. Louis could very well look to move right-handed defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk this offseason due to cap considerations and enviable depth on their blue line. Shattenkirk is tied for the Blues’ team lead in points (seven) this postseason, although his defensive play has been up and down.

There are second pairing free agent possibilities as well, but it’s a good bet that the Coyotes will try to improve their NHL blue line this summer. There was widespread discontent among staff members when Calgary GM, and former Coyotes assistant GM, Brad Treliving swooped in and acquired right-handed defenseman Dougie Hamilton from Boston last summer. The Coyotes know they have a pressing and immediate need.

What about the other first-round pick?

The Coyotes own the New York Rangers’ first-round pick this season. It was part of the deal that sent defenseman Keith Yandle (no, he’s not coming back) to New York for forward Anthony Duclair.

The Rangers did the Coyotes a big favor by bowing out in the first round of the postseason. At least two teams behind New York in the regular-season standings are guaranteed to make their respective conference finals (Tampa Bay or the New York Islanders in the East; San Jose or Nashville in the West), dropping both teams below New York in the draft order.

A team official confirmed Sunday that the Rangers’ pick is locked in at No. 20. It will be interesting to see how the Coyotes use this asset. It could be part of a package to bring in a top-four NHL defenseman. It could be used to further bolster the farm system. Either way, it gives the Coyotes a valuable asset.

How many other picks will the Coyotes have?

Aside from the two first-round picks, Arizona will have six more picks. It currently has one each in the second, third, fifth, sixth and seventh rounds, but it will pick up an additional second-round pick on June 1.

When the Coyotes dealt Mikkel Boedker to Colorado at the trade deadline, they acquired forward Alex Tanguay, defensive prospects Kyle Wood (whom they recently signed) and center prospect Conner Bleakley.

Colorado drafted Bleakley 23rd overall in 2014. Per NHL rules, a team is awarded a compensatory second-round pick for failing to sign a first-round selection.

A source confirmed that the Coyotes do not plan to sign Bleakley. Because he was taken with the 23rd selection in the first round, the Coyotes will be awarded the 23rd selection in the second round (53rd) while the team that was drafting 53rd will drop to 54th, and so on.

That means the Coyotes will have four picks in the first 53 selections of the draft. Again, think assets.

What about Marty Hanzal?

Maloney said he would try to work out a contract extension with Hanzal this summer before Hanzal enters the final year of his contract. Maloney is no longer the GM, but both LeBlanc and Tippett have given strong indications they value what Hanzal brings to the table.

Tippett thinks with a coach’s mentality. He wants to win now and he is concerned that dealing Hanzal would leave a void at center that young prospects Dylan Strome and Christian Dvorak could not fill, particularly Hanzal’s ability to match up with the Western Conference’s big centers and his ability to create net presence.

We get that argument, but it only goes so far. Hanzal has proven he isn’t durable. He hasn’t played more than 65 games since 2009-10, he has a history of back problems, he will turn 30 next season, and although he set a career-high, 41 points isn’t an impressive number for a guy who plays so many minutes (the most of any Coyotes forward) and in so many situations.

If the Coyotes can’t get proper return for Hanzal, it makes sense to hang onto him, but they should be very careful with a contract extension for an aging player with an injury history and a history of missing games. These are the kinds of deals that define franchises and their GMs down the road.

What other needs might the Coyotes address at the Draft?

Wait? You mean teams draft for need?

Of course they do. Despite the rhetoric that drafting for need gets you in trouble, teams always examine their organizational needs. The preference is to draft the best player available on your board, but if two players are close and one fills an organizational need, that factor normally tips the scale.

Defense should be the emphasis for the Coyotes this summer, but Arizona could use another goaltending prospect to add to Adin Hill (and maybe Niklas Treutle). Maloney was also correct when he said you can never have enough center prospects.

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