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

[shaner8989]

Small sample size but he’s been amazing. 3.5 is an absolute steal.

 

[Jared Dunn]

Really good signing. He hit a home run here and the stolarz and tanev ones to

While I tend to agree this reeks of famous last words

 

[LEAFANFORLIFE23]

I've always found it interesting how Vancouver fans raked both Ekman-Larsson and Juolevi over the coals for their skating. I didn't notice it as a problem for either at all. And sounds like it isn't an issue for OEL in Toronto now at age 33.

If that was considered an issue in Vancouver that's just not true.

 

[Coffee]

He's playing the best hockey of his career under Berube

 

[Heldig]

He's playing the best hockey of his career under Berube

Doubt he is playing better than when the first few years in Phoenix.

Happy he is playing well again.

 

[Raistlin]

If that was considered an issue in Vancouver that's just not true.

his issue in Vancouver was decision making and inconsistent effort. Once he gave up under the media scrutiny, then his "try" sagged and skating fell apart.

 

[Legion34]

If that was considered an issue in Vancouver that's just not true.

Take it for what it’s worth but Frankie corrado. Said he was playing through a major injury in van and he needed some Intensive specialist (he names him) to fix him on the leafs report this week. Apparently he was playing pretty hurt and recovered

 

[HabzSauce]

He's a beast back there. Will be fun In playoffs

 

[banks]

I always loved OEL in Arizona, and didn't understand why things went so bad in Van. Even as much hate as he got, rightly or wrongly, I was still a fan.

Glad he's with Toronto now, as he's been a difference maker in the it games so far. He pushes the game forward.

 

[Puckstuff]

Doubt he is playing better than when the first few years in Phoenix.

Happy he is playing well again.

I’m not sure but he looks really good on both ends. Josi just had one of his best seasons at 33 so it’s not inconceivable OEL could get back to form at 33. Maybe he’s not an elite #1 like he was in Zona but he looks pretty damn close to it. I thought this was going to be a potential Klingberg 2.0 situation but it’s the exact opposite.

 

[Sergei Shirokov]

His first year in Vancouver he was good. He then broke his foot in the world championships & played on it the following season, and was very bad.

Given the contract the seasons get lumped together but his time here wasn't all bad.

He looks to be fitting like a glove in Toronto. Good for him

 

[SeanMoneyHands]

He's still a good dman, having him play in a tight system like under Maurice and Berube helps him.

 

[Russian_fanatic]

I always loved OEL in Arizona, and didn't understand why things went so bad in Van. Even as much hate as he got, rightly or wrongly, I was still a fan.

Glad he's with Toronto now, as he's been a difference maker in the it games so far. He pushes the game forward.

Just a horrible fit in Vancouver. He just never clicked with anyone, and our coaching staff was a mess.

He was also not going to get PP time with Hughes here, and he was horrible playing the right side. In Toronto he's back to getting powerplay time, and he's a good fit there. The fit with OEL didn't make sense from the beginning and most Vancouver fans acknowledge that. We are honestly happy he's doing well.

 

[HockeyVirus]

His first year in Vancouver he was good. He then broke his foot in the world championships & played on it the following season, and was very bad.

Given the contract the seasons get lumped together but his time here wasn't all bad.

He looks to be fitting like a glove in Toronto. Good for him

Yeah that is how it goes a lot of the time sadly. Fans remember the player who left but not the entire player's time there. I very much doubt he is playing this way for the entirety of his contract, but if he can give us 1-2 years and play that way in the playoffs for us... Well that is very helpful for the Leafs to get a real top 4 dman for nothing

 

[The Nuge]

He's playing the best hockey of his career under Berube

No he’s not. Like not even remotely close. He legitimately was a top 10 dman in the NHL at one point, and absolutely carried the Coyotes