Coyotes defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson will miss the team's final three games of the season as the team has granted him a taken a leave of absence following the death of his mother.
"This has been a very difficult year for me personally," Ekman-Larsson said in a statement released by the team. "I'd like to thank the Coyotes organization and all of my teammates for their incredible support all season long. I'm sorry that I'll miss our last three games but family comes first."
Ekman-Larsson traveled to his native Sweden Monday, the team said, to be with his father, brother and other family members after his mother passed away recently following a long battle with cancer.