Toronto Maple Leafs: Lou Lamoriello’s Best Move
Toronto Maple Leafs GM Lou Lamoriello traded for Tomas Plakenec, but that wasn’t his best trade deadline move this season.
On February 27, when the smoke was still clearing from the trade deadline violence, it became clear Toronto Maple Leafs GM Lou Lamoriello was only able to address Toronto’s fourth-line needs. Making the brilliant move for Plekanec without giving up important pieces for the future.
The disappointment of not getting a defenseman seems to define Lou’s performance at the trade market this year.
Coming into the season the Toronto Maple Leafs already had the best available rental on their roster. His name you ask? James van Riemsdyk. He was the best rental and never moved an inch. The best move Lou Lamoriello made was not trading James van Riemsdyk, for any return.
Anyone saying that Lou should’ve trade JVR before the trade deadline is wrong. James van Riemsdyk is one of the most valuable pieces the Toronto Maple Leafs have on their roster for their playoff run this season. No player on the Leafs can replace what he does, and making your team worse in exchange for some future draft picks when you have even an outside shot at the cup is silly.
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James van Riemsdyk
James van Riemsdyk has tallied 26 goals in 68 games this season. He’s on pace for a career-high 31 goals on the season. Impressive about his stats so far is that he is doing that whilst averaging the lowest average TOI since playing for Toronto. Not too shabby, right? Last year, when he had a career-high point season of 62 points, he had Marner on his line. A luxury he hasn’t had much this season.
With his 26 goals he is ranked 7th among left-wingers in goals. From the six names above him (Ovechkin, Lee, Hall, Marchand, Zucker, and Ehlers), he has played the fewest minutes. Taking goals per minutes played, JVR ranks 4th among left wingers.
Not to forget the obvious, he carries a very friendly contract for the production he delivers. But more important, he brings a unique skillset. How many wingers with JVR’s speed score so many goals? With his big body and smooth hands, James van Riemsdyk is always in the right spot to score goals. He is different than most wingers, giving the team he plays for a very effective weapon to utilize.
Playoffs
Imagine that Lou traded JVR away. We would have gotten a crappy return and possibly granted a playoff rival a lethal offensive asset. The thing that makes this team so offensively dangerous is that they can make a lot of different plays to score goals. They have all type of offensive players that could force a goal, exactly what a team needs in the playoffs.
Next: Leafs Roundtable: Who Should be the Next G.M ?
Since playing for the Toronto Maple Leafs, JVR has appeared in 2 playoff series. In these series JVR played a total of 13 games, tallying 10 points. Not bad, not bad at all. That’s the kind of player you want to have on your roster during the playoffs.
All stats from naturalstattrick, hockey-reference and Cap Friendly.