Players anxious with looming trade deadline
Van Riemsdyk could be among Leafs moved
As much as James van Riemsdyk doesn’ t want to ponder what could happen before the National Hockey League trade deadline on Feb. 26, the Maple Leafs winger’s mind wanders every so often.
“We’re all human,” van Riemsdyk said. “T hings usually work out the way they’re supposed to, but that doesn’t meant there aren’t moments when you are thinking about it more than other times.
“You try not to waste any extra energy worrying about it when you have no control over it.”
Though the general feeling is the Leafs will hold onto van Riemsdyk despite his impending status as an unrestricted free agent this summer, the possibility, even if slim, remains that he could be traded by Leafs general manager Lou Lamoriello.
While Lamoriello’s contemplation in the next three weeks likely involves other Leafs headed for unrestricted free agency including centres Tyler Bozak and Dominic Moore, winger Leo Komarov and defenceman Roman Polak, the GM won’t limit his desire to improve the Leafs only through the potential dealing of players who will have full hockey freedom in July.
With winger Josh Leivo reportedly wanting out of Toronto so he can get a fresh start — what, exactly, took so long for Leivo to ask for a trade — and Nikita Soshnikov on the market, the expectation is that Lamoriello will be active to some degree.
And what of a player such as Matt Martin, who has been a healthy scratch for the past five games? Martin is under contract through the 2019-20 season. Have the Leafs decided already that the rugged winger no longer can make an impact? Appears the answer is no.
These sorts of possibilities, and put a search for depth at centre in this category, are just the appetizers.
Lamoriello would get to the meat of the matter if he was able to land a top- four defenceman. For that to happen, you’re looking at saying goodbye to any one of William Nylander, Mitch Marner or Kasperi Kapanen.
One game is j ust one game, but it’s clear during a 4-1 loss in Boston against t he Bruins on Saturday night that the Leafs have to make upgrades if they have serious intentions of advancing beyond the first round. That they were handled so easily by a Bruins team that didn’t have Brad Marchand on the ice must have been discouraging for coach Mike Babcock and the Leafs players, no matter that they were indicating the opposite after the game.
Contemplating his f uture through it all is van Riemsdyk, who put another 20- goal notch in his belt when he scored in New York against the Rangers on Thursday night. That’s five NHL seasons of at least 20 goals for van Riemsdyk, who realizes his consistency is attractive to teams across the league.
“It’s funny how your expectations kind of shift over the years,” van Riemsdyk said. “You expect yourself to get (to 20 goals) versus when you do it the first time. I was laughing about that with my dad ( Frans). You push yourself higher and higher, and you want to keep pushing the envelope.
“We have a great group of guys who I love being around, but at the end of the day, we have no control over (being traded). I’m prepared to come in every day like I always do and put my best foot forward and do what I can to help the team win.
“I’ ll let the rest of the chips fall where they may.”
GET QUICK: KADRI
If the l oss against the Bruins served as a lesson for the Leafs as they start a fivegame home stand on Monday night against ex- Leafs coach Randy Carlyle and the Anaheim Ducks, what would that lesson entail?
“Just try to play quicker,” centre Nazem Kadri said. “We were too slow at times (in Boston) moving the puck and were not quick enough to support each other when they were pressuring us.
“Getting through the neutral zone a little quicker, getting on the forecheck, generating opportunities that way. I think we did not give ourselves enough outs.
“We’re a fast team, that’s our identity, that’s how we’re going to win games. Stick to our structure and use our speed. We’re an offensive team, so capitalize.”
If the Bruins indeed are the Leafs’ opponent in the first round of the playoffs in April, Kadri was not put off by the spanking the Bruins gave the Leafs.
“It’s February,” Kadri said. “We understand there is lots of hockey to be played (with a chance to grow). We did not play our best, we know that. We have more to give.”
FROM THE HASH MARKS
Never mind the poor effort i n Boston — during which the Leafs had just 28 shot attempts during five-on- five play, their fewest in a game this season — Babcock cancelled a scheduled practice on Sunday, giving his players the day off … The Leafs’ next victory will mark Babcock’s 100th with Toronto. His record to date as Leafs coach is 99- 88- 31 … During the loss on Saturday, the Leafs allowed two power- play goals in a game for just the fifth time in 201718. The Leafs haven’t given up three power-play goals in a game this season.