Confirmed with Link: Leafs sign D Oliver Ekman-Larsson (4 years, $3.5M AAV)

[wingman75]

Things I didn't realize.

• How big he is
• How physical he is
• How gritty he plays
• How good he is defensively
• How good he is with a breakout pass; direct or indirect

He's not flashy. Just good.

 

[ER89]

cant believe that dweeb kyle got me caring about advanced stats.

All i care about now is how big a dude is.

lol in all seriousness though f*** it feels good to win the score battle, the eye test and lost the shitty deserve to win o meter crap than vice versa. Whatever OEL's stats are hes been absolutely dynamite.

 

[seanlinden]

I'm going to eat some crow on this one... as I HATED the OEL signing... but the early returns have obviously been extremely solid.

Even the cap hit, $3.5m sounds like a big number, but it's honestly not these days. There is certainly a world where he can be a #5 defenceman at $3.5m

 

[IPS]

Ok who had it on their bingo card that OEL was gonna just step in and be the Leafs' #1D?

 

[yzerman]

Oliver has become the player he was in Arizona his movements and the way he read the play is elite or atleast near so far and i think he "blossoms now when he gets to play in the hockey capital of the world and looks extremely focused.

 

[The Best Leafs Everr]

I'm going to eat some crow on this one... as I HATED the OEL signing... but the early returns have obviously been extremely solid.

Even the cap hit, $3.5m sounds like a big number, but it's honestly not these days. There is certainly a world where he can be a #5 defenceman at $3.5m

He is clearly playing like a stud Dmen he was always known for. Top pairing great 2-way D. 3.5m per is an absolute daylight robbery.

 

[LeafSteel]

This guy…..

Wow.

Anyone else getting Yushkevich vibes from him?

His play is absolutely eye opening.

Hoping he can keep this up.

What a terrific signing by Treliving.

 

[supermann_98]

He's been incredible! Great signing by Tre! I can't wait for the Dubasites and advanced stats nerds pull up charts and graphs telling me how bad he's been but I'll trust my eyes

 

[ACC1224]

Things I didn't realize.

• How big he is
• How physical he is
• How gritty he plays
• How good he is defensively
• How good he is with a breakout pass; direct or indirect

He's not flashy. Just good.

I’m in that club as well.
In our defense even Arizona fans didn’t watch Arizona.

 

[conFABulator]

He's been incredible! Great signing by Tre! I can't wait for the Dubasites and advanced stats nerds pull up charts and graphs telling me how bad he's been but I'll trust my eyes

I understand the point/joke you are making, but there can't be anyone actually saying anything bad about OEL so far this year, can there? He has delivered in every way we could have possibly hoped. He is apparently a really solid teammate too.

 

[Legion34]

I understand the point/joke you are making, but there can't be anyone actually saying anything bad about OEL so far this year, can there? He has delivered in every way we could have possibly hoped. He is apparently a really solid teammate too.

Unfortunately there is some here who only care about their opinions about certain gms.
They aren’t even fans of the team.

 

[Dreakmur]

Anyone else getting Yushkevich vibes from him?

I watched Yushkevich play, so no.

 

[conFABulator]

Unfortunately there is some here who only care about their opinions about certain gms.
They aren’t even fans of the team.

Thanks. I figured that was what this was. I actually started a thread on the topic of this divide in a portion (subset?) of Leafs nation so I won't go deeper on this topic here.

It's hard to see flaws in what OEL brings. Same with Tanev. The only knock is contract length and age and that is not an issue right now, so we should enjoy and appreciate what they are bringing. If Hakanpaa can play, he brings a lot to our third pairing.

 

[Legion34]

Thanks. I figured that was what this was. I actually started a thread on the topic of this divide in a portion (subset?) of Leafs nation so I won't go deeper on this topic here.

It's hard to see flaws in what OEL brings. Same right Tanev. The only knock is contract length and age and that is not an issue right now, so we should enjoy and appreciate what they are bringing. If Hakanpaa can play, he brings a lot to our third pairing.

Honestly he looks like our best D.

Rielly 6’1. Tanev 6’2
OEL 6’2. McCabe 6’2
Benoit 6’4. Hakanpa. 6’7

Would be amazing if healthy and this is actually who oel is.

He looks like a No 1 D out there. Of course that’s not likely to remain the case but if he is a legit second pairing D that would be amazing

 

[Ianturnedbull]

Ok who had it on their bingo card that OEL was gonna just step in and be the Leafs' #1D?

I did.

 

[Ianturnedbull]

This guy…..

Wow.

Anyone else getting Yushkevich vibes from him?

His play is absolutely eye opening.

Hoping he can keep this up.

What a terrific signing by Treliving.

A little like Yushkevich. A little like Leetch and Berard. Svehla a bit. Kind of unique.

 

[thewave]

Our best D

 

[SHANNYPLAN]

There's no way he is "only" 6'2... the guy looks huge out there.

Small sample size, but he's looked like the best D man I've seen on the Leafs in my life time.

 

[ACC1224]

Unfortunately there is some here who only care about their opinions about certain gms.
They aren’t even fans of the team.

Not just GMs, there is a group that is like that with certain players as well.
I just treat it as comedy relief.

 

[NJG]

The first page of this thread is hilarious lol

Right? I said from the beginning (check my past posts if you'd like) he was a great signing and I was defending the signing when everyone was complaining and losing their minds. Now everyone loves him.

 

[The Best Leafs Everr]

I love that he signed at that cap for 4 years. Hopefully he can keep up with the age and play for 4 more years afterwards.

 

[Oscar Peterson]

Honestly he looks like our best D.

Rielly 6’1. Tanev 6’2
OEL 6’2. McCabe 6’2
Benoit 6’4. Hakanpa. 6’7

Would be amazing if healthy and this is actually who oel is.

He looks like a No 1 D out there. Of course that’s not likely to remain the case but if he is a legit second pairing D that would be amazing

OEL-McCabe and Rielly-Tanev both look like amazing pairs and it’s crazy what a difference that makes for our team. I like rooting for Benoit but similarly to last year he’s brutal without McCabe at his side, he’s been really sewering Timmins and Liljegren when he got a game. So many turnovers in his own zone. I think upgrading on him is imperative

 

[Ianturnedbull]

Right? I said from the beginning (check my past posts if you'd like) he was a great signing and I was defending the signing when everyone was complaining and losing their minds. Now everyone loves him.

F orever
O verthinking
O nly
L ight
S tickchecking defensemen will work

OEL-McCabe and Rielly-Tanev both look like amazing pairs and it’s crazy what a difference that makes for our team. I like rooting for Benoit but similarly to last year he’s brutal without McCabe at his side, he’s been really sewering Timmins and Liljegren when he got a game. So many turnovers in his own zone. I think upgrading on him is imperative

I think that's hasty. This is not EA Sports. He'll be given more of a chance.

 

[leafs in five]

Things I didn't realize.

• How big he is
• How physical he is
• How gritty he plays
• How good he is defensively
• How good he is with a breakout pass; direct or indirect

He's not flashy. Just good.

same. I am kind of shocked by how mean he is

 

[4thline]

Ok who had it on their bingo card that OEL was gonna just step in and be the Leafs' #1D?

Kinda?

Early indications are a 3 with shades of 4