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Toronto Maple Leafs Can Become the New 2010 Chicago Blackhawks

By Matthew Rodrigopulle

Nov 5, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs forward Auston Matthews (34) and forward William Nylander (29) congratulate defenseman Jake Gardiner (51) on his goal against the Vancouver Canucks at Air Canada Centre. Toronto defeated Vancouver 6-3. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 5, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs forward Auston Matthews (34) and forward William Nylander (29) congratulate defenseman Jake Gardiner (51) on his goal against the Vancouver Canucks at Air Canada Centre. Toronto defeated Vancouver 6-3. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 15, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs left wing James van Riemsdyk (25) during the game in which he scored a hat trick against the Nashville Predators at Air Canada Centre. The Maple Leafs defeated the Predators 6-2. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 15, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs left wing James van Riemsdyk (25) during the game in which he scored a hat trick against the Nashville Predators at Air Canada Centre. The Maple Leafs defeated the Predators 6-2. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports /

James Van Riemsdyk (acquired in 2012) — Marian Hossa (signed in 2009)

James Van Riemsdyk was acquired by the Leafs from the Philadelphia Flyers in exchange for defenceman Luke Schenn. Looking back, this trade was quite the steal for Toronto. Marian Hossa was a key addition the Blackhawks.

After being on the short end of the Stanley Cup stick in both 2008 and 2009, playing for the Detroit Red Wings and Pittsburgh, Hossa joined the Blackhawks roster in which he fit in perfectly. Filling in as a first line winger, Hossa added the scoring touch that Chicago crucially needed. Van Riemsdyk can be that scorer for the Leafs.

He already has consistently put up 50-60 points in the last couple of seasons (excluding last season in which he only played 40 games due to injury).

JVR can easily slot in anywhere among the Leafs top 6, and much like Hossa, can score at crucial times for their team. As well, as of currently, Van Riemsdyk has 18 points in 21 games this season while Hossa has 17 points in 22 games. The comparison between the two are hard to overlook.

(Fun Fact, JVR actually played in the 2010 Stanley Cup Finals for the Flyers, ultimately losing to the Blackhawks in 6 games. If anyone knows about that cup winning team, it’s him).

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