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Breaking down the Toronto Maple Leafs 2024-25 Blue-Line

As we do every year, here is a deep-dive on the Toronto Maple Leafs blue-line

By James Tanner

May 27, 2024; Edmonton, Alberta, CAN; Dallas Stars defensemen Chris Tanev (3) and Edmonton Oilers forward Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (93) chase a loose puck during the first period in game three of the Western Conference Final of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Rogers Place. Mandatory Credit: Perry Nelson-USA TODAY Sports
May 27, 2024; Edmonton, Alberta, CAN; Dallas Stars defensemen Chris Tanev (3) and Edmonton Oilers forward Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (93) chase a loose puck during the first period in game three of the Western Conference Final of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Rogers Place. Mandatory Credit: Perry Nelson-USA TODAY Sports / Perry Nelson-USA TODAY Sports
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Oliver Ekman-Larsson

The Toronto Maple Leafs made a very dumb decision to sign OEL that is, unfortunately becoming a signature move of sorts for the team's current management group. That is to say that OEL is a somewhat safe, name-brand pick that has almost no upside or chance to return value on his contract.

The problem with signing OEL is that he just played the left side of Florida's 3rd pairing and posted the exact same numbers as the Leafs got from Mark Giordano playing the left side of their third pairing last season.

Only problem? Giordano did it on a one-year $900K league-minimum contract, while the Leafs inexplicably gave OEL four-years and $3.5 million. That is an incredibly wastful use of cap space because OEL is 33 and has basically no upside - he will only get worse.

The Leafs - or any team - can get the numbers Gio or OEL put up on the 3rd pairing for the league minimum with no committment. Since that is the case, smart teams give these roles to rookies who have upside, not veterens on decline making 4 x the league minimum.

The Leafs can't really win here - either OEL is one of the most overpaid 3rd pairing players in the NHL, or they play McCabe out of position and have OEL as one of the worst second-pairing players in the league while preventing Liljegren from further growth.

I guess there is a scenario where OEL is on the second pairing and McCabe/Benoit is the third pairing, but the latter pairing is so bad at moving the puck their long-term success is an extreme longshot despite posting very good numbers together last season.

On the positive side, OEL is a strong puck mover and an intelligent player. Unfortunately, any time he's been tasked with playing tougher minutes since leaving Phoenix, he has not done well. The Leafs were in need of puck-movers, and they got one, but they should have just saved their money and went with a Benoit/Niemela 3rd pairing.

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