Trade him to Chicago so they can hit the cap floor.
Markiv19
I’m comfortable starting the season with what is listed there. With the several other guys fighting for 7,8 spots
Sufficient_Bird_5034
Why not scratch him every single night until he decided to waive his NMC
alihou
OEL is still a useful player when he’s not the guy. I think he can be a good pairing with Hronek.
MasterChrom
I think OEL bounces back. Obviously he’s not the player he once was, but I think he can still play top 4 minutes and quarterback the 2nd unit PP.
TGUKF
I would move the second and third pairings around in the article a bit. I would do:
Hughes – Bear
OEL – Hronek
Hirose – Myers
OEL – Myers already proved to be terrible, but OEL was not so bad in smaller sample sizes with non-Myers RHD like Bear. If Hronek is actually a second pairing D who can do some of the heavy lifting, then OEL might still be serviceable paired with him
Plus it’s more imperative to figure out something for OEL that might get some value out of him, other than just sticking him on the third pairing. Myers is totally whatever since his contract is expiring next season
ooMEAToo
Trade him to Arizona, I heard they take cap dumps.
-agent49-
Am I the only one who actually think Hughes, OEL, Hirose/Brisebois on the left is totally fine?
I’m still thinking the first priority is to find Hughes a stable/long term partner and having Hronek and bear play the 2nd and 3rd RD.
EvrcrCPA
If we run:
Hughes-Bear
Hirose-Hronek
OEL-Burroughs?
OEL will be capable as a 3rd pairing guy. I am okay with not buying him out
cac
They won’t. Allvin pretty much said the plan is to run it back next year.
Hughes/Bear
OEL/Hronek
One of Hirose + Dermott + Brisebois + Wolanin/Myers
Bigbootyy17
Based on how bad OEL was and that it sounds like he was injured most of the year, it can only go up. OEL is a sheltered role on the bottom pairing could work…
But how does the team retool? You certainly can’t roll out the same group that got caved in.
Myers has to go, don’t pay a premium asset to burn just 1 year, but once the bonus is paid take whatever you can or pay something to deal him.
Sounds like Burroughs is gone and the team isn’t talking with him.
Highly doubt Poolman ever plays again, multiple years now with repeated brain injuries, not worth it. He’s a very strong LTIR candidate.
Dermott is a non tender candidate as well, injured most of the year and not worth his qualifying offer.
So who’s left?
Hughes-xxxx xxxx-Hronek OEL-Bear
Hirose-Johanssen Wohlanen-xxxx Brizebah-Woo
This is sort of how I see it, McWard spends the entire year in the AHL. Hirose gets some games but won’t be full time. The good news is that you don’t need play drivers in those empty spots. You need steady shut down d men. Here’s a few guys I think fit the package and high on my wish list.
#1. Gavrikov – 6 x 5.25 million #2. Gudas – 3 x 3.25 million #3. Clifton (my sleeper dream) – 4 x 2.25 million
Hughes-Gudas Gavrikov-Hronek OEL-Bear
That’s a respectable defense
TarsesaK
Maybe have faith in him as a person and a player, and hope he’s plays great with Hronek.
YouCanFucough
Basically your only options to make any meaningful difference are A: Buyout OEL and replace him in trade or free Agency. B: Trade Myers and replace him in trade or free agency. C: Pray to god that one of the worst defence corps in the league gets magically better. That was the plan last year and it looks like the plan this year.
YojimboAP
OEL returns next season and lights it up, only/best outcome – fingers crossed
dawsondude123
Myers is the problem and we can put his money to use somewhere else where we need it
SoExcited_1
They’re not going to. Next year will also be a shit show.
JerbearCuddles
We have 80 one way wingers we can try trading. One of or both Garland and Boeser should be moved. If we can manage it, maybe moving Myers as well. Really depends on if his bonus can be paid sooner than September, looking unlikely. But it’s an option.
We also have a bunch of kids looking to make names for themselves. I am not saying McWard and Hirose will save us, but they’re options. Along with Woo, Wolanin, and the other AHLers looking to prove themselves. There’s that Swede guy, Johansson. He’s not a kid, so either he’s legit or he’s washed.
And honestly, a healthy OEL and Hronek would be a psuedo retool. OEL said he was dealing with the repercussions of his foot injury at least years Worlds. So if he comes in healthy, that’s an improved OEL. Hronek hasn’t even really played for us yet.
julesieee
Reject buyout. Embrace OEL. 🥰
SourGrapesFTW
Healthy OEL will be the second biggest addition to the blueline.
Are we ignoring the fact that we will have Hronek who only played 3-4 games for us this year?
There’s your retool.
AdDesigner498
Looks like the Leafs might take him after watching this fire drill in the 1st period. #NoLeafsNo!
Largebargecharge
I think he can pull it around next season, not a #1 pairing guy but I think he is better than what he showed this season. Maybe he goes on a Karlsson type of run 23-24
mabbz
“Hey Oliver, can you do us a solid and retire? You can rest and let your body heal. We’ll offer you a position where, by pure coincidence, you will be paid whatever we owe you.”
Alpacaduck
Canuck Scenario #1: run it back. Woof.
Canuck Scenario #2: 11OA, OEL and Garland for future considerations.
AdDesigner498
3-0 Tampa, Leaf’s really do need OEL! Package a deal with Myers for multiple draft picks in the off season. 🤫
oldbabine
Assuming Myers is gone
Hughes/mystery 6’2″ d man
OEL/Hronek
Hirose/ one of Wolanin, Bear, Schenn….Woo, ya never know..
NotoriousBananaHavoc
There aint no big game changer D men out on the market so unless we trade for one with the forwards we have it looks like itll have to come within
notarealredditor69
I don’t think a buyout is off the table, but I do think that they will at least want to try and get another year out of him before they do so. Maybe something else will shake loose.
IceCreamScuseMe
I think the only real option is to play him and see what happens. I suspect he’ll get LTIRed fairly soon due to the nature of his injuries, but I’ve been surprised before. The positive is Hirose and Wolanin look like NHL players. Hirose especially seems to have potential despite the small sample size. However, they probably need to make another acquisition this offseason to fill the void.
mabbz
It’s sort of retooled with Hronek and Hirose (assuming his play stays the same).
We can also grab Tony from Richmond for a low cap hit this offseason too for bottom pairing duties.
0xAlchemist
Step 1) Put in a good word for Jim Benning with an opposing club looking for a GM.
Step 2) Trade our bad contracts to Jimbo in exchange for valuable picks and prospects.
Step 3) Profit.
Edit – punctuate all the things.
Joe_Blob69
Myers and a 2nd to Arizona
joeyandkuma
If they are keeping OEL and myers this is a non playoff team again and brining in hronek is a complete waste
If they were planning to buyout OEL and trading myers after the bonus then hronek might have made some sense but now this is still a shit tier over paid d on a non playoff team
happigofucky
Ask chatgp it’s probably better than Rutherford
GoldenChest2000
Hot take, but they’re not making the playoffs for however long OEL remains on the roster.
chocoball1972
It was always wishful thinking that we could re-tool the blueline on the fly because Aquilini won’t pay $20m to a guy not to play…..
NCPokey
I think the buyout makes the most sense. Yes it extends 4 years of pain to 8 years. However, 2.1 million in 2027-28 until 2030-31 should be pretty manageable. During the 4 years that would be the remainder of his contract, his cap hit would go from 7.2 million with the Canucks to a little over 100k in 2023-24. Then, it would rise to 2.3 million in 2024-25 and 4.7 million in 2025-26 and 2026-27. Even in the two worst years at 4.7 million, I think they could find defenders who they could pay 2.5 million or less who would be at least as good, if not better, than OEL for the same combined cap hit (2.5 or less for a replacement defender, plus 4.7 million buyout)
I don’t think they are going to do it though, which is unfortunate. It’s not that I love the idea of them carrying dead money for 8 years, but I think getting rid of OEL and replacing him with even someone like Wolanin isnt a huge downgrade. I liked OEL when he was a stud for Arizona, but he looks completely washed.
Jonny5H
End of the day they need to move money out and buyout is the only way they can guarantee it (without giving up assets). Even moving Myers if they have to eat 50% by the time they pay for a replacement it doesn’t move the needle that much
All of last summer they talked about moving money out and couldn’t, so I think it’s more likely than not they have to buy OEL out, even though it’s far from ideal
And doing nothing doesn’t really make sense when we have gone out and got Hronek who needs to be re-upped soon, Petey too, we don’t know when miller will start to decline etc. etc. All these moves are kind of pointless if we still are a non playoff team for the next couple of years
37 Comments
Trade him to Chicago so they can hit the cap floor.
I’m comfortable starting the season with what is listed there. With the several other guys fighting for 7,8 spots
Why not scratch him every single night until he decided to waive his NMC
OEL is still a useful player when he’s not the guy. I think he can be a good pairing with Hronek.
I think OEL bounces back. Obviously he’s not the player he once was, but I think he can still play top 4 minutes and quarterback the 2nd unit PP.
I would move the second and third pairings around in the article a bit. I would do:
Hughes – Bear
OEL – Hronek
Hirose – Myers
OEL – Myers already proved to be terrible, but OEL was not so bad in smaller sample sizes with non-Myers RHD like Bear. If Hronek is actually a second pairing D who can do some of the heavy lifting, then OEL might still be serviceable paired with him
Plus it’s more imperative to figure out something for OEL that might get some value out of him, other than just sticking him on the third pairing. Myers is totally whatever since his contract is expiring next season
Trade him to Arizona, I heard they take cap dumps.
Am I the only one who actually think Hughes, OEL, Hirose/Brisebois on the left is totally fine?
I’m still thinking the first priority is to find Hughes a stable/long term partner and having Hronek and bear play the 2nd and 3rd RD.
If we run:
Hughes-Bear
Hirose-Hronek
OEL-Burroughs?
OEL will be capable as a 3rd pairing guy. I am okay with not buying him out
They won’t. Allvin pretty much said the plan is to run it back next year.
Hughes/Bear
OEL/Hronek
One of Hirose + Dermott + Brisebois + Wolanin/Myers
Based on how bad OEL was and that it sounds like he was injured most of the year, it can only go up. OEL is a sheltered role on the bottom pairing could work…
But how does the team retool? You certainly can’t roll out the same group that got caved in.
Myers has to go, don’t pay a premium asset to burn just 1 year, but once the bonus is paid take whatever you can or pay something to deal him.
Sounds like Burroughs is gone and the team isn’t talking with him.
Highly doubt Poolman ever plays again, multiple years now with repeated brain injuries, not worth it. He’s a very strong LTIR candidate.
Dermott is a non tender candidate as well, injured most of the year and not worth his qualifying offer.
So who’s left?
Hughes-xxxx
xxxx-Hronek
OEL-Bear
Hirose-Johanssen
Wohlanen-xxxx
Brizebah-Woo
This is sort of how I see it, McWard spends the entire year in the AHL. Hirose gets some games but won’t be full time. The good news is that you don’t need play drivers in those empty spots. You need steady shut down d men. Here’s a few guys I think fit the package and high on my wish list.
#1. Gavrikov – 6 x 5.25 million
#2. Gudas – 3 x 3.25 million
#3. Clifton (my sleeper dream) – 4 x 2.25 million
Hughes-Gudas
Gavrikov-Hronek
OEL-Bear
That’s a respectable defense
Maybe have faith in him as a person and a player, and hope he’s plays great with Hronek.
Basically your only options to make any meaningful difference are A: Buyout OEL and replace him in trade or free Agency. B: Trade Myers and replace him in trade or free agency. C: Pray to god that one of the worst defence corps in the league gets magically better. That was the plan last year and it looks like the plan this year.
OEL returns next season and lights it up, only/best outcome – fingers crossed
Myers is the problem and we can put his money to use somewhere else where we need it
They’re not going to. Next year will also be a shit show.
We have 80 one way wingers we can try trading. One of or both Garland and Boeser should be moved. If we can manage it, maybe moving Myers as well. Really depends on if his bonus can be paid sooner than September, looking unlikely. But it’s an option.
We also have a bunch of kids looking to make names for themselves. I am not saying McWard and Hirose will save us, but they’re options. Along with Woo, Wolanin, and the other AHLers looking to prove themselves. There’s that Swede guy, Johansson. He’s not a kid, so either he’s legit or he’s washed.
And honestly, a healthy OEL and Hronek would be a psuedo retool. OEL said he was dealing with the repercussions of his foot injury at least years Worlds. So if he comes in healthy, that’s an improved OEL. Hronek hasn’t even really played for us yet.
Reject buyout. Embrace OEL. 🥰
Healthy OEL will be the second biggest addition to the blueline.
Are we ignoring the fact that we will have Hronek who only played 3-4 games for us this year?
There’s your retool.
Looks like the Leafs might take him after watching this fire drill in the 1st period.
#NoLeafsNo!
I think he can pull it around next season, not a #1 pairing guy but I think he is better than what he showed this season. Maybe he goes on a Karlsson type of run 23-24
“Hey Oliver, can you do us a solid and retire? You can rest and let your body heal. We’ll offer you a position where, by pure coincidence, you will be paid whatever we owe you.”
Canuck Scenario #1: run it back. Woof.
Canuck Scenario #2: 11OA, OEL and Garland for future considerations.
3-0 Tampa, Leaf’s really do need OEL!
Package a deal with Myers for multiple
draft picks in the off season. 🤫
Assuming Myers is gone
Hughes/mystery 6’2″ d man
OEL/Hronek
Hirose/ one of Wolanin, Bear, Schenn….Woo, ya never know..
There aint no big game changer D men out on the market so unless we trade for one with the forwards we have it looks like itll have to come within
I don’t think a buyout is off the table, but I do think that they will at least want to try and get another year out of him before they do so. Maybe something else will shake loose.
I think the only real option is to play him and see what happens. I suspect he’ll get LTIRed fairly soon due to the nature of his injuries, but I’ve been surprised before.
The positive is Hirose and Wolanin look like NHL players. Hirose especially seems to have potential despite the small sample size. However, they probably need to make another acquisition this offseason to fill the void.
It’s sort of retooled with Hronek and Hirose (assuming his play stays the same).
We can also grab Tony from Richmond for a low cap hit this offseason too for bottom pairing duties.
Step 1) Put in a good word for Jim Benning with an opposing club looking for a GM.
Step 2) Trade our bad contracts to Jimbo in exchange for valuable picks and prospects.
Step 3) Profit.
Edit – punctuate all the things.
Myers and a 2nd to Arizona
If they are keeping OEL and myers this is a non playoff team again and brining in hronek is a complete waste
If they were planning to buyout OEL and trading myers after the bonus then hronek might have made some sense but now this is still a shit tier over paid d on a non playoff team
Ask chatgp it’s probably better than Rutherford
Hot take, but they’re not making the playoffs for however long OEL remains on the roster.
It was always wishful thinking that we could re-tool the blueline on the fly because Aquilini won’t pay $20m to a guy not to play…..
I think the buyout makes the most sense. Yes it extends 4 years of pain to 8 years. However, 2.1 million in 2027-28 until 2030-31 should be pretty manageable. During the 4 years that would be the remainder of his contract, his cap hit would go from 7.2 million with the Canucks to a little over 100k in 2023-24. Then, it would rise to 2.3 million in 2024-25 and 4.7 million in 2025-26 and 2026-27. Even in the two worst years at 4.7 million, I think they could find defenders who they could pay 2.5 million or less who would be at least as good, if not better, than OEL for the same combined cap hit (2.5 or less for a replacement defender, plus 4.7 million buyout)
I don’t think they are going to do it though, which is unfortunate. It’s not that I love the idea of them carrying dead money for 8 years, but I think getting rid of OEL and replacing him with even someone like Wolanin isnt a huge downgrade. I liked OEL when he was a stud for Arizona, but he looks completely washed.
End of the day they need to move money out and buyout is the only way they can guarantee it (without giving up assets). Even moving Myers if they have to eat 50% by the time they pay for a replacement it doesn’t move the needle that much
All of last summer they talked about moving money out and couldn’t, so I think it’s more likely than not they have to buy OEL out, even though it’s far from ideal
And doing nothing doesn’t really make sense when we have gone out and got Hronek who needs to be re-upped soon, Petey too, we don’t know when miller will start to decline etc. etc. All these moves are kind of pointless if we still are a non playoff team for the next couple of years