James Tanner: Ekman-Larsson Absent from NHL Top Defensemen List

No, he’s a 20-25 dman. Offense has slowed down and defense always been suspect. Dahlin noticeably missing on the list, if we’re going to get all up in arms about dman scoring 40 points on bad teams

Jimmy would you rather have OEL at his salary or Franson at league min?

How many D on that list had more more points per 60 than big Buf last year? Probably not too many

Jimmy would you rather have OEL at his salary or Franson at league min?
- daryl stanley

- 21peter

I'd rather have Runblad and Gormley.

Jimmy would you rather have OEL at his salary or Franson at league min?
- daryl stanley

Probably good news for OEL. Giordano didn't make the list last year. Any list that has Burns first is obviously garbage. Any list that doesn't have Hedman first is also obvious garbage.

Pssst, Jimmy. It's vicious, unless you're telling me the werewolf was a thick, soupy mess.

Probably good news for OEL. Giordano didn't make the list last year. Any list that has Burns first is obviously garbage. Any list that doesn't have Hedman first is also obvious garbage.
- Hunkulese

This x 100 !

How did they miss out on Shea Weber. He may have lost a step but is still a top 10 defenceman in the league. This list has a number of flaws!

So was andrew macdonald...what can you do?

Totally shocking that Jake Gardiner didn't make it either amirite

I have to agree with James on this one.

I'm pretty sure most would take OEL over any of Rielly, Subban, McAvoy, Trouba, Krug, Heiskanen, Suter, Parayko, Werenski.

(other than fans of that player's team of course!)

p.s. I also think you could drop Giordano down 10 or 15 spots.

OEL is one of the most overrated defensemen in the league. Does not deserve to be in the top 20.

Only conversation where he is tops in is leading the league in minus.

Overrated offensive and always poor defense.

I literally take all those listed defenseman without question every day over OEL and twice on Sunday.

It’s an absolute dumpster fire of a list. OEL clearly belongs on it, as does Kris Letang.

So the reigning Norris winner should be ranked 10-15? This list could be better, but your comment is laughable at best. Unless this list is about building for the future and not the current best, then sure; however; you would have to reconsider the positions of any over 30 year old d-man. The list is subjective, but the top five without Burns, Hedman, Karlsson and Gio would be severely wrong (not sure at the moment who I would add as #5).

OEL called and wanted to remind Tanner about the restraining order that’s still in place.

How did they miss out on Shea Weber. He may have lost a step but is still a top 10 defenceman in the league. This list has a number of flaws!
- enortap2

er....Top 40....maybe????

It’s an absolute dumpster fire of a list. OEL clearly belongs on it, as does Kris Letang.
- Za Warudo

I think Letang is number 10

I have to agree with James on this one.

I'm pretty sure most would take OEL over any of Rielly, Subban, McAvoy, Trouba, Krug, Heiskanen, Suter, Parayko, Werenski.

(other than fans of that player's team of course!)

p.s. I also think you could drop Giordano down 10 or 15 spots.
- JLO961

The bolded are the only ones that I'd take OEL over.

I think Letang is number 10
- shack67

There was a list in the past two weeks that Letang wasn’t on, must have been something else then. The point about OEL still stands.

That list is terrible, Burns isn't even the best defeceman on his team, I would put Burns somewhere between 10 and 20.

I would not put Karlsson at #1 either, I would have him barely in the top 10, he doesn't actually bother with playing much defense.

Ryan Ellis not on the list is just absurd

Parayko should be much higher, higher than Pietro even.

Klingberg? Really? If he is on the list, then I can totally see an argument for OEL.

James Tanner: Ekman-Larsson Absent from NHL Top Defensemen List
- James_Tanner

Statistics suggest that even if OEL ends up anywhere on this list, Jimmy-TanTan will still write a blog complaining about where OEL is on the list.

There was a list in the past two weeks that Letang wasn’t on, must have been something else then. The point about OEL still stands.
- Za Warudo

I agree on OEL, I wouldn’t have Reilly that high either although I do like him.