TSN's Frankie Corrado suggests James van Riemsdyk for the Toronto Maple Leafs
Photo credit: Boston Bruins on YouTube
With some positions still left unanswered in Toronto, TSN analyst Frankie Corrado suggested that Boston Bruins veteran forward James van Riemsdyk might be the right player to return to the Maple Leafs.
Brad Treliving has had the tough job as the Maple Leafs' general manager trying to undo the damage left by now-Pittsburgh Penguins GM Kyle Dubas. While there seems to be some level of upward mobility in the league, he has yet to meet the mark on several factors. Among these is their general lack of depth, particularly on the left wing, on which only Matthew Knies plays at the NHL level.
TSN analyst Frankie Corrado has a personal answer for that. This former Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman suggested on a recent edition of Overdrive that the team should consider bringing back former Philadelphia Flyers second-overall draft pick James van Riemsdyk. After recording 11 goals and 38 points in 71 games in his age-34 season with the Boston Bruins, he could be the right veteran to add some depth and invigorate power play production in the Stanley Cup playoffs.
"You know what, like the name JVR. Not even just because the nostalgia, the fact that he was here, although that helps, like familiarity with the group. I mean, there's been a lot of turnover, but, you know, I think for a guy that would be playing lower in the lineup, and probably on your second power-play unit, like that makes sense to me because you talk about scoring, it's like, the power play always seems to dry up in the playoffs, and if you could find an extra goal that you don't account for here and there over the course of a seven-game series that would help, and I think JVR is more, like he's more inclined to do something like that."
James van Riemsdyk has posted 311 goals and 629 points in 1011 career games. With 8 of his 15 years in the league seeing a playoff appearance and no Stanley Cup, he likely has both the experience and hunger to make a major showing in the postseason. Provided he is already 35, he would likely have to be a short-term deal, which could be the best fit for the Toronto Maple Leafs anyway.
| POLL | ||
4 SEPTEMBRE | 33 ANSWERS TSN's Frankie Corrado suggests James van Riemsdyk for the Toronto Maple Leafs Is there a better fit for the Toronto Maple Leafs' bottom LW than James Van Riemsdyk? | ||
| Yes | 13 | 39.4 % |
| No | 10 | 30.3 % |
| Tied | 4 | 12.1 % |
| No opinion | 6 | 18.2 % |
| List of polls | ||
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