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Toronto Maple Leafs: Reflecting on Pending Free Agents

By Nicholas Lucciantonio

TORONTO, ON - NOVEMBER 5: Tyler Bozak #42 of the Toronto Maple Leafs is congratulated by teammates Leo Komarov #47, Nikita Zaitsev #22, Morgan Rielly #44 and James van Riemsdyk #25 after scoring on the Vancouver Canucks during the first period at the Air Canada Centre on November 5, 2016 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Graig Abel/NHLI via Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - NOVEMBER 5: Tyler Bozak #42 of the Toronto Maple Leafs is congratulated by teammates Leo Komarov #47, Nikita Zaitsev #22, Morgan Rielly #44 and James van Riemsdyk #25 after scoring on the Vancouver Canucks during the first period at the Air Canada Centre on November 5, 2016 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Graig Abel/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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Three Toronto Maple Leafs are going to lose some players July 1st.

Tyler Bozak, Leo Komarov and James Van Riemsdyk will most likely become free agents this summer due to salary cap reasons, and internal competition making them unnecessary.

During their tenure in Toronto, they have been fan favourites. The Leafs are  Bozak and Komarov’s only NHL team. Let’s take a look at their time in Toronto, as we have most likely seen the last of them in a Leafs uniform.

Tyler Bozak

Tyler Bozak started out undrafted being signed out of Denver College in 2009. He was signed to a two-year contract and started his first year with 27 points in his first 37 games. He impressed the team enough for them to sign him to another two-year $3 million contract in 2011. For most of his career, he was a part of a Leafs team that always failed to make the playoffs or even contend for it. Until a shortened season in 2013 due to lockout, they just made it. Bozak notched an impressive 47 points in 58 games that season.

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Being the team’s first line centre, and having his first NHL playoff series, he was definitely eager to perform. The team lost to Boston in game seven in one of the biggest collapses in Leafs playoffs history, being up 4-1 in the mid third period. Since then, he had remained the team’s first line centre until his line mate, Phil Kessel was traded to Pittsburgh. His production slowed down which lead to Nazem Kadri being put on the first line. The team didn’t return to the playoffs until young players like Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner busted onto the scene. Tyler Bozak has been a leader for this team for quite sometime, continuously wearing the ‘A’ since captain Dion Phaneuf was traded in 2016.

Bozak returned to the playoffs with the Leafs in 2017 against the Washington Capitals, losing in game 6. They made it back-to-back playoff appearances the next year losing to the Bruins in seven. Tyler Bozak may not have been a superstar, but he was a great player for Toronto and did what was expected of him. His expensive contract likely means we will be seeing Bozak wear a different jersey for the first time this upcoming season.

Leo Komarov

Leo Komarov was drafted 180th overall in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft by the Toronto Maple Leafs. They did not come to terms till 2012 signing a one year $1.2 million contract. After one year playing for the Leafs he returned to Russia signing a one-year contract with Dynamo Moscow. A year later on July 1st 2014, he signed a four-year $2.9 million contract. The next few seasons Leo bounced around all four lines, totalling a career high 36 points in 67 games during the 2015/16 season. Rewarded for his strong play and career high numbers, he was selected to the 2016 NHL All-Star Game.

Leaf fans would love to keep Uncle Leo around, but with an over priced contract and players like Carl Grundstrom ready to replace him. It looks like his time may be up in Toronto.

James Van Riemsdyk

JVR is a player that is probably going to hurt Leaf fans the most, being the goal scorer he is. He was acquired by Toronto from the Philadelphia Flyers in 2012 for defenceman Luke Schenn. Van Riemsdyk’s first season with the Toronto Maple Leafs was their first playoff run since 2004. Scoring 32 points in 48 games, it wasn’t a bad first year with the team. Next season he proved to be a valuable asset scoring 61 points on the first line with Tyler Bozak and Phil Kessel. The line was even the highest scoring in the league for a good part of the season and next.

During the 2014/15 season JVR lead the team in goals with 27 and 56 points in 82 games. He was also announced as one of the one hundred greatest Toronto Maple Leafs of all time, placing 100th. His tip ins from in front of the net, his great hands to score in close and his dynamic way to play the game will be missed in Toronto if he isn’t re-signed.

Next: Leafs Should Trade for Staal

Even though these players will most likely be out of Toronto this July, the Leafs have great players that can take their place. There are even possibilities that they sign a new forward this summer. As one chapter ends, a new one begins, the Toronto Maple Leafs are just going to get better.

stats from NHL.com, hockey-reference.com, CapFriendly.com

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