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Oliver Ekman-Larsson | #23 | D


-AJ-

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30 minutes ago, -AJ- said:

I suppose the question is if JB could have reasonably forseen this drastic drop off in offense from OEL. Were there indications that his offense was going to evaporate? Can we hold JB accountable if there were no indications to the contrary?

He’s an older player past his prime 

https://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=120283

 

 

 

Edited by combover
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11 minutes ago, gurn said:

He gets that much time, playing the last 20 seconds of power plays?

surprising.

I just took it off the stats sheet maybe I’m read it wrong 

but it reads ice time PP and that what it says. Show me a different one. 
That’s why I posted the link to the stats page. 
 

 

 

i was wrong I see a tab that says all time for the stat I posted 

1.53 would be correct 

my bad. 
 But it doesn’t change we aren’t getting the production out of him that we needed 

possible the Green effect hopefully he gets going and start potting some. 

Edited by combover
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Just now, combover said:

I just took it off the stats sheet maybe I’m read it wrong 

but it reads ice time PP and that what it says. Show me a different one. 
 

I think gurn means OEL's pp time on the Canucks, not ALL TIME pp minutes, which is what you're showing as 3:23. I think for what gurn us saying, AJ is more accurate

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4 hours ago, combover said:



looks like he averages 3.23 per game

https://www.quanthockey.com/nhl/records/nhl-active-players-all-time-playoff-power-play-time-on-ice-leaders.html

 

OV leads the league with and average of 4.37 

Yeah OEL was probably used on Arizona's #1 PP almost his entire career, but in Vancouver, he's been a fixture on our 2nd PP unit. Hughes averages closer to 4:00 per game I believe and is by far 1st on the team's defense.

 

4 hours ago, gurn said:

He gets that much time, playing the last 20 seconds of power plays?

surprising.

The Canucks are 5th in the NHL in PP time, so that could contribute to it. We've been given a lot of powerplays, either through good play, or generous referees.

 

Here's a snapshot of this year's stats for your reference:

 

EDIT: I see you found the stats yourself too. 

 

30ed40a2a7443d959e97d5bb2e42c056.png

 

I'm actually shocked to see Myers so low.

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  • 2 weeks later...
  • 4 weeks later...

Frankly I have to problem with OEL as a player, his salary, now that's a different story. But I'd think he and Myers are a pretty good top end NHL pairing. Now in another 3 years time, I'm not holding my breath. The best value on the blue line IMO is Schenn. I think maybe Burrough might be a good 5-6 D'man nextseason although we haven't been able to see what Keeper has to offer. Poolman needs to be moved, if you can find a partner

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2 hours ago, eeeeergh said:

By far our most defensively responsible defenseman. Near the top of the league in goals against/60 minutes. 

image.thumb.png.d875d46c045020b373bc3898be46e0fe.png

He's getting help from Demko though, here are the leaders in limiting high danger scoring chances:
image.thumb.png.e673494692e0f633477c402e14560dba.png

Watching OEL and he's getting some seriously hard minutes.  Do all these other D get the same kinds of hard minutes?  I'm thinking Seth Jones does, and so does Josi, but some of those other guys aren't even top pairing players, no?  Maybe I just don't get the chart?

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22 minutes ago, Alflives said:

Watching OEL and he's getting some seriously hard minutes.  Do all these other D get the same kinds of hard minutes?  I'm thinking Seth Jones does, and so does Josi, but some of those other guys aren't even top pairing players, no?  Maybe I just don't get the chart?

You're 100% correct, quality of opposition skews these numbers, and Ekman-Larsson has had to play all the shutdown minutes. 

He's not among the best in limiting high danger scoring chances, but it's hard to pin that on just 1 man, when its a combination of: the forward group, whether you play on the PK or not, who you're matched up against, etc. But there are some names that stand out as top performers in this area who also play against top lines- the types of names that would actually be big difference makers if we were to land one or two of them. 

- Calvin De Haan: plays on the top pair in Chicago, runs the penalty kill and the powerplay. Upside: UFA this year. Downside: left side. 
- Damon Severson: plays the shutdown minutes on the right side for NJD, runs penalty kill 1, also runs one of the powerplay units. He's put up a ton of points this year too, which is kind of unfortunate, because his value is going to be inflated. I think this is the guy we really want if we can get him out of New Jersey. 

If we can upgrade Myers for a partner for OEL that is better defensively, that'll be the matchup pair that can effectively shut down top lines, and improve our PK. 

One thing's for sure - OEL has been a pleasant surprise and if he can keep playing like he has been + is given more defensive support, he's not that far off from providing his contracts value. 

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I never understand why defencemen who score points get paid more than shutdown defencemen. For example, a guy like Tanev is HUGE for that Calgary defence, yet earns peanuts compared to an offensive defenceman who can score 60 points but is a minus player and doesn't kill penalties.

 

OEL is interesting because he's transitioned from one to the other, but IMO he is our top shutdown left defenceman and along with Myers, they're the unit you want on the ice in the final minutes defending a 1 goal lead. That for me deserves cap hit. Does it deserve 14-15M? Maybe that's a bit much.

 

I think everyone was expecting OEL to score 30-40 points and he's only on pace for 25pts this season which is a big drop off from his Arizona days, but he's been used as a shutdown guy and it's much better for the team as we have Hughes. Two puck movers would lead us vulnerable half the time to Myers defending odd man rushes all the time which is not what we want.

 

The best thing about OEL embracing a shutdown role is that it's much more sustainable long-term.

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  • 2 weeks later...
On 3/7/2022 at 10:27 PM, DownUndaCanuck said:

I never understand why defencemen who score points get paid more than shutdown defencemen. For example, a guy like Tanev is HUGE for that Calgary defence, yet earns peanuts compared to an offensive defenceman who can score 60 points but is a minus player and doesn't kill penalties.

 

OEL is interesting because he's transitioned from one to the other, but IMO he is our top shutdown left defenceman and along with Myers, they're the unit you want on the ice in the final minutes defending a 1 goal lead. That for me deserves cap hit. Does it deserve 14-15M? Maybe that's a bit much.

 

I think everyone was expecting OEL to score 30-40 points and he's only on pace for 25pts this season which is a big drop off from his Arizona days, but he's been used as a shutdown guy and it's much better for the team as we have Hughes. Two puck movers would lead us vulnerable half the time to Myers defending odd man rushes all the time which is not what we want.

 

The best thing about OEL embracing a shutdown role is that it's much more sustainable long-term.

Problem may be is that he's not built to be a shutdown D-man, and that's not going to change as he gets older.

 

He's really been labouring in the 2nd half of the season. I'm hoping it's just mostly injury and fatigue; remember earlier in the season he was injured and came back way sooner than expected (was supposed to be out a few weeks but came back in a few days).

 

We have 2 guys on the left making a combined 15M that can do just fine playing that role in spurts but probably aren't a permanent solution there.

 

Right now it feels like we could use both a RH and LH version of Tanev :P

 

 

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On 3/18/2022 at 9:31 AM, kanucks25 said:

Problem may be is that he's not built to be a shutdown D-man, and that's not going to change as he gets older.

 

He's really been labouring in the 2nd half of the season. I'm hoping it's just mostly injury and fatigue; remember earlier in the season he was injured and came back way sooner than expected (was supposed to be out a few weeks but came back in a few days).

 

We have 2 guys on the left making a combined 15M that can do just fine playing that role in spurts but probably aren't a permanent solution there.

 

Right now it feels like we could use both a RH and LH version of Tanev :P

 

 

He definitely looks injured. Night and day difference in his skating from the beginning of the season to now.

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3 minutes ago, eeeeergh said:

He definitely looks injured. Night and day difference in his skating from the beginning of the season to now.

He's a guy who even said he relied on his natural gifts too much and needed to work harder in summers getting stronger and fitter.  He's at the age now where he needs to make his summers (and all year round really) super important to be as strong and fit as possible.  I'm hoping a year here, and he sees the Twins and learns what it takes to stay really good into one's 30's.  There's no denying he was playing really well until recently when it looks like the injury bug caught him.  

I think if her works super hard he will still be a good player for us.  He just needs to be committed.  Hopefully he has that level of inner desire to be the best.  

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1 minute ago, Alflives said:

He's a guy who even said he relied on his natural gifts too much and needed to work harder in summers getting stronger and fitter.  He's at the age now where he needs to make his summers (and all year round really) super important to be as strong and fit as possible.  I'm hoping a year here, and he sees the Twins and learns what it takes to stay really good into one's 30's.  There's no denying he was playing really well until recently when it looks like the injury bug caught him.  

I think if her works super hard he will still be a good player for us.  He just needs to be committed.  Hopefully he has that level of inner desire to be the best.  

Yep agreed. Just wish he and others (like Petey) wouldn't try to play through their injuries. Take the time to properly rehabilitate them, and come back when you're 100%. 

He's not helping anyone by just powering through, if he cant skate effectively. 

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On 3/18/2022 at 9:31 AM, kanucks25 said:

Problem may be is that he's not built to be a shutdown D-man, and that's not going to change as he gets older.

 

He's really been labouring in the 2nd half of the season. I'm hoping it's just mostly injury and fatigue; remember earlier in the season he was injured and came back way sooner than expected (was supposed to be out a few weeks but came back in a few days).

 

We have 2 guys on the left making a combined 15M that can do just fine playing that role in spurts but probably aren't a permanent solution there.

 

Right now it feels like we could use both a RH and LH version of Tanev :P

 

 

Seeing how playoff hopes are all but dashed, if OEL has any inkling of an injury, I'd say, shut him down for the season.  Put Dermott in to take OEL's cap space and use Dermott's cap space to pay Halak's bonus. Remove any stress on next season's cap you can.  That's if, if that sort of cap gymnastics is allowed.

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2 minutes ago, bigbadcanucks said:

Seeing how playoff hopes are all but dashed, if OEL has any inkling of an injury, I'd say, shut him down for the season.  Put Dermott in to take OEL's cap space and use Dermott's cap space to pay Halak's bonus. Remove any stress on next season's cap you can.  That's if, if that sort of cap gymnastics is allowed.

We have the room for Halak's performance bonus against this year's cap already, so we're covered there.

Moving Hamonic and bringing in Dermott already took care of that.

But I do agree - sideline OEL until he feels better. Petey too, that wrist looks lke its bothering him again. 

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5 minutes ago, eeeeergh said:

Yep agreed. Just wish he and others (like Petey) wouldn't try to play through their injuries. Take the time to properly rehabilitate them, and come back when you're 100%. 

He's not helping anyone by just powering through, if he cant skate effectively. 

Maybe their desire to play (when injured) is an indication of their inner compete level and it's a good think that way?

I just want these guys to live here full time and not head home to Sweden and take it easy.  They need to be 110% committed to training.  Yes, they have lives, but winning needs to be what their prime focus is while playing.  

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2 minutes ago, Alflives said:

Maybe their desire to play (when injured) is an indication of their inner compete level and it's a good think that way?

I just want these guys to live here full time and not head home to Sweden and take it easy.  They need to be 110% committed to training.  Yes, they have lives, but winning needs to be what their prime focus is while playing.  

Oh for sure its a huge credit to them for their desire to compete. Shows really good character that they're willing to try their best to play through the pain. I think it's probably hard to find players that are committed enough to endure that. 

But now that we aren't in a playoff spot, its time to focus on getting better. I think if we had a suitable option on defense that could step in for OEL and take some hard minutes, they would have sat him earlier to recover. 

Problem also is how bad they are playing injured - if it was mildly affecting their performance, itd be a different story, but when your effectiveness is down like 50%+, no matter how bad you want to help, I think you should sit and recover

Edited by eeeeergh
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