Confirmed Signing with Link: [TOR] D Oliver Ekman-Larsson signs with the Maple Leafs (4 years, $3.5M AAV)

[Dog]

Wonder if he has anything left in the tank

The leafs will ride that tank till it's gone and see if he can crawl blocking shots lol.

 

[Dread Clawz]

I loved OEL on the Panthers. He'll be better than you think he is.

 

[TimeZone]

This is worse than the Tanev contract. At least Tanev will improve the D.

You understand the Leafs have absolutely nobody capable of producing offense from the backup outside of Rielly, correct?

Contrary to popular belief, it's the lack of goals that has killed the Leafs come playoff time, they've scored 2 goals or less in 13 of their last 14 playoff games.

 

[Turin]

This feels like OEL is gonna be the whipping boy in TO in short order. Tanev will be a godsend for a couple years, but his I fear could go south fast.

 

[KrisLetAngry]

He played well for Florida. I do worry Toronto will ask for too much out of him at times.

3.5 x 4 and 4.5 x 6 for Tanev is a tad nuts though.

 

[Patagonia]

Leafs are spending heavily on aging DMen. Tanev is 35 for 6 seasons and OEL is 32 for 4 years . He's also often injured (except contract year) bouncing around the league. Terrible deals that would further stretch their limited cap space.

 

[SeanMoneyHands]

OEL is a #6 now but I have a feeling the Leafs are going to lean on him to be a #4.

The big reason why he was so good in Florida was because his minutes were very limited.

 

[Nogatco Rd]

I don’t see why d-core wouldn’t also make sense

Like forward core, core 4, etc

The basic or most important part; the crucial element or essence: synonym: substance.
"a small core of dedicated supporters; the core of the problem."

A 7th defenseman is part of a team's d corps. Is he also part of their "D Core" ? No, that's why "d core" is a misnomer.

 

[nbwingsfan]

So Toronto really is going to go into round 6 of patching together a team through overpaid bottom 6 forwards and bottom pair UFA players to surround a core of underachieving stars?


You love to see it

 

[Maple Leaf]

So Toronto really is going to go into round 6 of patching together a team through overpaid bottom 6 forwards and bottom pair UFA players to surround a core of underachieving stars?


You love to see it

Yep and the cash keeps flowin

 

[HFpapi]

Jesus Christ, we get John Tavares off the books next year and now we are paying Chris "Joe Biden" Tanev and OEL 8 million a year till 2028.

 

[biturbo19]

4 years seems like a big gamble on a guy who just had the one "bounceback" year on a team that has a habit of rejuvenating old defencemen and hiding their skating falling off in a bit of a unique system.

Though at $3.5M in this bonkers cap world, i guess it's not really a huge deal...unless he has another absolute catastrophe season where he's clearly injured like his last in Vancouver. He would've been just fine the year before that in Vancouver, at that sort of price rather than what he was actually costing before the buyout.


Intentionally getting more old and slow overall with term locked in is certainly a choice for the Leafs blueline though, especially for the future.

 

[thaman8765678]

How does Treliving keep getting jobs? The only thing he has accomplished is making the Panthers a Stanley Cup contender while being GM of the Flames.

 

[DFF]

Listen

https://x.com/i/web/status/1807753962126242219

What if he wants to use that money now?

Nobody is deferring 100% of their salary?

 

[Outl4w]

I like it

Tanev & OEL

Leafs going with a youth movement

Is marner still getting traded?

 

[DFF]

Aging declining players worked great for Treliving since he found James Neal so why stop?

 

[Jmo89]

OEL is a #6 now but I have a feeling the Leafs are going to lean on him to be a #4.

The big reason why he was so good in Florida was because his minutes were very limited.

He will probably be the #5. You're right though, they should keep his minutes limited.

So Toronto really is going to go into round 6 of patching together a team through overpaid bottom 6 forwards and bottom pair UFA players to surround a core of underachieving stars?


You love to see it

It seems doubtful that Marner waives. This year is a bit of wasted year imo. Hopefully they get the cap space to better balance the team next year but knowing the Leafs they'll re-sign Marner to a ridiculous extension and waste the opportunity.

 

[Laus723]

This deal makes me nervous

Don’t let it. He’s a solid d-man. Best to kept on the bottom pair if possible, but he can move the puck well and has a feisty side. I liked him a lot.

 

[Jared Dunn]

OEL is a #6 now but I have a feeling the Leafs are going to lean on him to be a #4.

The big reason why he was so good in Florida was because his minutes were very limited.

I think they'll have a clear top 3 and then Benoit, Liljegren, OEL and Hakanpaa will be in a meritocracy. He probably does start as the #4 but seeing the deal they gave Liljegren they're going to be giving him a chance to grab that as well.

He averaged 18:23 I doubt he'll be asked to shoulder much more than that

 

[darrylsittler27]

Newsflash: Leafs don't win cup next year. Genius Dubas . Hated Kadri, overpayed Tavares.

 

[The Winter Soldier]

Treliving sure likes locking up 30 something D men. If this were 2019, this would be a good deal. Not sure what to make of OEL who looked done after Vancouver, but was rescued by Zito. This can go either way.

 

[Ratsreign]

I don’t see why d-core wouldn’t also make sense

Like forward core, core 4, etc

The basic or most important part; the crucial element or essence: synonym: substance.
"a small core of dedicated supporters; the core of the problem."

“Core” works, but it actually is spelled “corps”, the French word for “body” (which I imagine is where the English word core came from). Like the US Marine Corps. Spelling Core in English works for me, though.

OEL is a #6 now but I have a feeling the Leafs are going to lean on him to be a #4.

The big reason why he was so good in Florida was because his minutes were very limited.

He started the year playing top pair with Forsling while Ekblad and Montour were out on IR.

 

[CanadienShark]

That's... A lot.

 

[Gaylord Q Tinkledink]

OEL sucked in Vancouver did well in Florida, so we'll see.

 

[MikeK]

So now because he's a leaf OEL is suddenly a top 4 Dman again who can QB a #1 PP unit. Unreal. Toronto fans always taking that dbl shot of koolaid. This guy is a bottom pairing Dman at this stage of his career. Toronto thinking he's anything but are just setting themselves up for disappointment. There is a reason Vancouver bought this guy out. Toronto doesn't have the D core to shield this guy. I predict things get ugly real quick.