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

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HockeyVirus

Woll stan.
Nov 15, 2020
17,491
26,351
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.

I haven't seen anything more than a 4/5 who can run a PP
 

TheDoldrums

Registered User
May 3, 2016
12,574
19,045
Kanada
Kypreos said on Sportsnet yesterday that he thinks OEL quarterbacks the #1PP unit and takes Rielly's spot.

probably, that's what they wanted from Klingberg last year

I think the Leafs should have targeted Brett Pesce but he now makes 5.5M and the Leafs wouldn't have enough cap space for Tanev.

Pesce was always going to NJ, wanted to be close to home
 

TD Charlie

Registered User
Sep 10, 2007
37,483
18,445
It's easy to laugh at Toronto, and maybe the OEL/Tanev deals aren't the smartest contract offers they've ever made, but they addressed a need. They are better with these two guys than without. As a bruins fan, I hope the infighting amongst Toronto fans starts immediately regarding their roster, but even I'll admit they are a better team today. On paper anyway.
 

SeanMoneyHands

Registered User
Apr 18, 2019
14,732
13,755
After watching the sportsnet podcast. Sounds like the leafs are going to have OEL as their #4Dman to start the season. And it gives an opportunity for Liljegren to step up and show that he can be a top 4 dman.
 
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4thline

Registered User
Jul 18, 2014
14,564
9,929
Waterloo
I don't like the term, and it's risky with McCabe not being Montour/Forsling, but people do realize that OEL spent more total minutes with one of those 2 in the top 4 than he did with Kulikov on the bottom pair right? And that both he and the Panthers did more than fine with him in those minutes?

He's literally coming off a season as a 4/5 for a 110 point cup winning team, where he saw a lot of tough minutes. Now, there's no guarantee he can do that for 82, or see the same success with the Leafs personnel instead of Florida, but:
A- if he was a slamdunk he wouldn't have signed for 3.5
B- the whole "he only rebounded as a pure bottom pair, extremely sheltered 6" is objectively wrong
 
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