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Toronto Maple Leafs: Going Forward with James Van Riemsdyk

By Matthew Rodrigopulle

Feb 14, 2017; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs forward James van Riemsdyk (25) skates with the puck during warm ups prior to the game against the New York Islanders at the Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 14, 2017; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs forward James van Riemsdyk (25) skates with the puck during warm ups prior to the game against the New York Islanders at the Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Trade Deadline is long behind us. The Toronto Maple Leafs roster is set and all the rumours and speculations can finally be put to an end, right?

Well, not necessarily. The Toronto Maple Leafs might be set for the rest of the season, but what are they bound to do in the offseason? How can they make this rebuilding team better after this season?

One player that still might be on management’s mind as well as many other team’s radars is James Van Riemsdyk.

Rumours with his name attached were thrown around all season long. He’s still with the team, but should he remain with the team for the rest of his contract? Let’s take a look.

Toronto Maple Leafs
Toronto Maple Leafs /

Toronto Maple Leafs

The Contract Situation

Van Riemsdyk is on a very attractive contract right now. Expiring after next season, JVR has a cap hit of 4.25 million per year.

This is an excellent contract that the Leafs might want to keep, and other teams might want to acquire. JVR is a player who can immediately join any team’s top six and make a sizeable impact. For a player of his calibre, 4.25 million per year is very good.

The Leafs are benefitting greatly from having JVR’s contract. Not only does he seem attractive in the trade market, but it’s a steal for a player to have in your own lineup. Do the Leafs really want to get rid of this just like that?

An Exchange Opportunity

It’s no surprise that teams have been shopping JVR for a while now. He’s a high calibre player who can still easily get things done. Although injuries forced him to play just 40 games last season, he was able to score 14 goals in that stretch, enforcing his skill. This season he has picked up the pace again, so far totalling 20 goals and 29 assists for 49 points in 65 games.

One key asset that the Leafs have been missing this whole season is another strong top four defenceman. The need for this position obviously isn’t just for this season though. That hole should still be something the Leafs are looking to fill going forward, one way or another. If anything, they might need it more if defenceman Matt Hunwick and Roman Polak leave the team due to expiring contracts.

On paper it makes sense to trade away JVR for this top four defenceman. He was rumoured for a while to be in the mix to acquire blue liners like Niklas Hjalmarsson, Cam Fowler and Kevin Shattenkirk (which obviously didn’t happen). Toronto has more offensive prospects on their way up, and not as much defensive help.

Swapping a high scoring JVR to fill holes makes sense for the Leafs, and it still makes sense going forward too. In fact, their may be some sellers approaching the NHL Draft that would be looking to sell top four defenceman in exchange for offence–Anaheim may still be on that list with Cam Fowler. The pricing may be good too.

But the real question is should the Leafs make a move on JVR?

JVR’s Place on the Leafs

In my honest opinion, I don’t think so. Maybe I’m still hung on the fact that we’re rebuilding, but I don’t think the Leafs need to swap JVR for immediate defensive help.

There’s a few free agent defencemen the Leafs could go after this offseason (in case you didn’t check my piece on that). The Leafs could be looking to fill holes there. And although trading for a free agent defenceman and hoping to sign them can help acquire someone at a cheaper cost, I don’t think that’s necessary either.

The Leafs should be patient and really evaluate the market coming up. JVR is very attractive in terms of his contract and his skill. The Leafs don’t have to give him up. They should enjoy him while it lasts.

He has been an excellent player for our rebuilding offensive core. On a team with such an abundance of youngsters, having a skillful, high scoring veteran is beneficial in developing them. JVR is just that. Mitch Marner for example has been playing great on his line.

All in all, I see a future for JVR, and it’s here in Toronto–at least for the time being. There’s time in this rebuild. You rebuild a team by trading away veterans for young prospects. If that was the case with JVR, maybe it would work. But I just don’t see the need to trade him away for immediate defensive help just yet. He’s an important part of our offensive core, and if we hold on to him when we’re Cup contenders…oh that would be deadly.

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