Toronto Maple Leafs: The Enemy’s Insight – Countdown to Deadline Day

As the Toronto Maple Leafs continue along their current scorching pace, it’s natural for rival fan bases to get jealous.

Well, that’s at least Omar White from “A Winning Habit” is giving off this week. Frankly, I don’t blame him. The Leafs are pretty flippin’ good.

So, without further adieu, let’s answer a few of his burning questions.

“Is #FreddieForVezina for real, or just another #Kadri4Selke phase?”

Even at the height of its powers, I don’t think #Kadri4Selke was ever done with a completely straight face.

Yes, Nazem Kadri was playing some phenomenal two-way hockey, but the movement was primarily born out of novelty. For years, Kadri was crucified by the media for his defensive deficiencies and now here he was, proving them wrong.

It was fun but never realistic.

Although, with how well Frederik Andersen’s been playing since November, the #Freddie4Vezina movement is as real as it gets. Andersen has forced himself directly into the Vezina conversation. I mean, putting up a .921 save percentage while starting more games and facing more shots than any other NHL goaltender will do that for you.

There’s no ironic angle here.

Andersen has earned every morsel of praise he’s been given, and then some. Plus, knowing there’s an all-world goaltender behind you as the last line of defence certainly eases any D corps-related anxiety in Leaf Land.

There may not be a hotter goaltender in the NHL right now than Andersen. And his current level of play is the type that can extend a playoff run an extra round or two.

For the Leafs, that may be all they need.

“Speaking of Nazem Kadri, he’s been really hot since Mike Babcock moved Mitch Marner to his wing? Why wasn’t that a decision the Leafs made earlier instead of having Leo Komarov there for so long?”

The only people who can answer that question are Mike Babcock and God.

While he remains arguably the league’s best coach, some of Babcock’s personnel decisions this season haven’t made a lick of sense. I mean, Leo Komarov played 24 minutes in a game a while bac.

TWENTY FOUR MINUTES. Are you serious? Is that even allowed?

Frankly, the most applicable answer here is that Babcock was trying to teach his plucky group of millennials that playoff games aren’t won by scores of 8-5.

Komarov, at least in Babcock’s eyes, is Toronto’s best defensive winger. So, naturally, he’d put him alongside their best defensive centre in Kadri to form a shutdown line.

Sound logic, right?

Unfortunately, that decision caused Kadri to go an entire calendar month without a single point. Yes, his line was shutting opponents down. But, if you also fail to chip in a goal or two in the process, your value remains even.

Thankfully, it seems like the Leafs have learned whatever lesson Babcock was trying to teach them, and have finally gone back to their old offensively dominant ways.

And, as a result, they’ve won 11 of their last 14 games. Plays like these are a big reason why.

If Marner and Kadri are ever separated, we riot.

“If trading JVR is still an avenue the Leafs are thinking to take at the deadline, is his reduced ice time – especially in the third period – hurting his value?”

At this point, if the Leafs haven’t already dealt James van Riemsdyk, they never will. And, frankly, they shouldn’t.

Despite his gaudy offensive numbers, JVR is very good at doing precisely one thing; banging home pucks in front of the net. When was the last time you saw him throw a big hit? Or block a key shot? I’d wager it’s been a while.

Such a limited skill set might explain JVR’s reduced ice-time in the third period as well, a point in the game when the Leafs usually hold the lead.

He’s not exactly a defensively competent player, and therefore doesn’t get thrown out when his team is primarily playing defence.

If you plan on handing upwards of $6 million a year to a player, a price JVR will presumably command in free agency, that player better do more than just one specific thing.

Now, this certainly isn’t a knock on JVR as a player. He’s been a fantastic member of the Toronto Maple Leafs throughout his six seasons in the organization. It’s just that his limited skill set isn’t one I’d invest a significant chunk of the salary cap in.

With that said, JVR is exactly the type of player I’d kill to have on my team once the playoffs roll around.

In 52 career postseason games, JVR’s put up a respectable 25 points, with the majority of those games coming when he was but a youngster buried on a deep Flyers team.

In fact, I’d say JVR is the best playoff rental currently on the market. And, luckily for Toronto, they don’t need to spend any assets for his services.

Next: Marlies Notebook: Soshnikov Cocktail

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