Former NHLer calls on Toronto to bring back James van Riemsdyk
Photo credit: Boston Bruins on YouTube
TSN analyst and former NHL defenseman Frank Corrado called on the Toronto Maple Leafs to bring back veteran Boston Bruins forward James van Riemsdyk.
The Toronto Maple Leafs have a few problems heading into the upcoming season, but among the most troubling is the lack of forwards in the left wing. On their current roster, they only have two players listed under this position. The first is Matthew Knies, who shows great potential after he recorded 15 goals and 35 points in 80 games last season following only three prior NHL games. The other is Ty Voit who was a fifth-round draft pick in 2021 and has only played one game in the AHL so far due to an injury with the Toronto Marlies.
However, a former NHL defenseman has suggested filling this position lower in the lineup. TSN analyst Frankie Corrado, who played 41 games with Toronto during his career, has called on the Maple Leafs to sign veteran Boston Bruins forward James van Riemsdyk, who he believes can bolster the team's chance of scoring on the power play in the Stanley Cup playoffs.
"I like the name JVR, and not even just because of the nostalgia because he was here, although that helps [...] I think for a guy that would be playing lower in the lineup, and probably on your second power-play unit, that makes sense to me. You talk about scoring, the power play always seems to dry up in the playoffs, and if you could find an extra goal 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 inclined to do something like that."
James van Riemsdyk played 413 games over six seasons with the Toronto Maple Leafs, posting 153 goals and 291 points. In his last season with the Boston Bruins, he recorded 11 goals and 38 points in 71 games, which is not bad for a player past their prime at 34 years old. Now another year older, he could be a solid, short-term option to add some depth to the roster for the right price. Add in over 1000 NHL games of experience, he might be the perfect veteran for the job.
| POLL | ||
4 SEPTEMBRE | 67 ANSWERS Former NHLer calls on Toronto to bring back James van Riemsdyk Should the Toronto Maple Leafs sign James van Riemsdyk? | ||
| Yes | 29 | 43.3 % |
| No | 29 | 43.3 % |
| No opinion | 9 | 13.4 % |
| LIST OF POLLS | ||
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