Coyotes' Yandle, Ekman-Larsson a powerful duo

With the Coyotes positioned as sellers as the March 2 trade deadline approaches, General Don Maloney is no doubt fielding calls on his batch of free agents but he also likely continues to receive interest in defenseman Keith Yandle.

Despite Yandle's name being a part of trade rumors the past few years, the Coyotes have yet to execute a deal. Maybe that changes this year — at the deadline or the NHL draft — with Yandle having only one year left on his five-year, $26.25 million contract after this season.

The continued emergence of Oliver Ekman-Larsson as an All-Star defenseman might be seen as a way to soften the blow of Yandle's departure if it ever happens, but ask both of them and they'll say their value is maximized when they're on the same team.

"I agree, for sure," Ekman-Larsson said. "I think you need to have two guys like us to be a good team and if you can have two guys like that on your back end, you're going to get a better chance to win hockey games.

"Obviously, we don't know what's going to happen here in the future. You just have to stay focused on what we can do, so it's not up to me and Yands what's going to happen. We just have to prepare for every single game."

Both act as quarterbacks on a power-play unit that has been a bright spot for the Coyotes this season, sitting among the league leaders at 22.4 percent. They both have been touted for their vision, their pass work and their skating. But they aren't the same player and because of that, they are able to work well with each other when they find themselves on the ice at the same time — chiefly on the power play.

"He's more of a shooter," Yandle said. "I'm more of a passer, and I think that kind of complements the power play and helps out a bit. For a guy like Oliver, he's got one of the best shots in the NHL and he's got a quick release. It's hard. He's accurate with it a lot of the time.

"For me, I'm just trying to get it to him and let him shoot. I think when we're making, whether it's 5-on-5 or power play, when we're making good passes and using our legs, that's when we're at our best."

Their roles aren't solely reliant on their offensive play, but having puck-moving defensemen who are catalysts for goals is a must in today's NHL. Yandle had a seven-game point streak snapped in a 2-1 loss to the Blues Tuesday, but he leads the Coyotes with 39 points and his 35 assists rank first among all NHL defensemen. Meanwhile, Ekman-Larsson is the team's leading goal scorer with 16 — a career-high.

"Obviously, we're a big part of this team and we try to take pride in that," Ekman-Larsson said. "Obviously, we know when we get a power play, we have a good chance to use our skill and I think we've done a pretty good job of that the whole season here so far."

Change is on the menu for the Coyotes after falling out of playoff contention so early this season, and that could mean reassessing the core members. Regardless of what transpires, it's been clear the duo of Yandle and Ekman-Larsson has given the spark the Coyotes need more often than not.

"The more, the merrier," coach Dave Tippett said. "I'd like 20 like that. They're good players. They're high-skill players. They make good plays with the puck. They create things. That's why they're good players.