Oliver Ekman-Larsson Cracks NHL Network’s ‘Top 20 Defensemen Right Now’ List

This Saturday, tune into the NHL Network to see where Oliver Ekman-Larsson lands on their Top 20 Defensemen Right Now list. This isn’t the first time the Coyotes blueliner has ranked among the best in the league, cracking the top 10 in 2016.

Testament to his reputation among NHL insiders, even after a down year that saw him post a career-worst -25, he is still considered one of the top defensemen in the league. Smooth skating, puck moving, offensive defenseman of his calibre are rare these days. You can include fellow countrymen like Victor Hedman and Erik Karlsson in that conversation as well. Soon we may see all of their names together, as it should be, as the most dominant defensemen in the NHL.

Ekman-Larsson will most likely be the new Captain of the Coyotes this season, he has a lot to prove and has the skill and mentality to do it. If he can find his stride again this year, he could find himself looking at being on top of another important list, the Norris Trophy Finalists.

You can catch the countdown on NHL Network at 4pm PST/7pm EST. You can also tweet/Facebook/Instagram your thoughts about the list with the hashtag #NHLTopPlayers.

Where do you think OEL will land on this list? Think he can crack the top 10?