3 Toronto Maple Leafs That Need to Bounce Back in Second Half

2. Jimmy Vesey – 27 years old – LW/RW

2020-21 stats (As of game 28 against WPG) – 28 GP – 5 G – 2 A – 7 PTS – 45.2 CF%

Jimmy Vesey has had an interesting first half of the season, to say the least. He started on the second line alongside John Tavares and William Nylander, and then slowly worked his way down the lineup where he saw some ice-time on the third line and where he is right now on the fourth line alongside Jason Spezza and whoever else Sheldon Keefe throws on that line on some nights.

I almost forgot to he had an opportunity to play alongside Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner at one point, but clearly, we all know how that turned out as he’s now back on the fourth line. Vesey was brought into Toronto as a bottom-six depth option on a very cheap contract as he signed a one-year $900K contract.

I wasn’t expecting a whole lot from him, but I did expect a little bit more compared to how he has been through the team’s first 28 games of the regular season. Through 27 games he currently has five goals and two assists for seven points and is averaging around 12 minutes a night.

The five goals aren’t bad by any means, especially when he’s been in the bottom-six for most of the season, but three of those five goals came in a three-game span against Edmonton and Vancouver out West.

With the trade deadline approaching soon, and the return of Wayne Simmonds nearing, Jimmy Vesey could potentially find his way out of the lineup if he doesn’t help contribute on a consistent basis from now on.