>END OF THE LINE
Van Riemsdyk tops six unrestricted free agents likely to land elsewhere
105
Points in the regular season by the Leafs, a franchise record
49
Wins
29
Home-ice wins, franchise record
36
Goals by pending free agent James van Riemsdyk, tops on the club
69
Points by top scorer Mitch Marner, with one year to go on his entrylevel contract
After a disappointing end to the season, reality set in for James van Riemsdyk on Friday: This might have been the last time he’d walk out of the Maple Leafs’ dressing room.
“Definitely a weird feeling, possibly walking out of here for the last time,” van Riemsdyk said as he spoke to the media for the last time this season.
Van Riemsdyk is one of six unrestricted free agents for the Leafs — along with Tyler Bozak, Leo Komarov, Tomas Plekanec, Dominic Moore and Roman Polak — but his exit Friday was more sentimental than the others. It’s expected van Riemsdyk, after six years in Toronto and a career-high 36 goals to lead the club this season, will sign elsewhere.
Bozak, the longest-tenured Leaf, is in a similar position.
There’s a possibility the Leafs could try William Nylander as the third-line centre next season, between Andreas Johnsson and Kasperi Kapanen — which would make the aging Bozak (32) more disposable.
Bozak and van Riemsdyk had excellent regular seasons. They’ve both earned the right to look at the free-agent market and it’s expected both will follow the money to a team willing to pay them market value.
That’s something the Leafs likely won’t be able to compete with, given the immediate focus on signing their big three young guns: Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner and Nylander.
The remainder of the UFAs are all in the same boat: They’ll probably sign somewhere else or be offered one-year contracts to return.
Van Riemsdyk, whose sixyear, $25.5-million (U.S.) deal with the Leafs is done, is in position to sign the most lucrative deal of his career. Naturally, there are a multitude of factors to consider, including his interest in remaining a Leaf.
“Ever since I was traded here, I tried to jump fully into being a Maple Leaf,” said van Riems- dyk, who will turn 29 next week and was the centrepiece of the June 2012 trade that sent Luke Schenn to Philadelphia.
“I enjoy everything here: this city, this team, all of it has a lot to offer. It’s been great for me, and just having the unwavering support of the fans and the city of Toronto. There’s lots of different emotions there now.”
Van Riemsdyk also takes pride in being in Toronto during the rough times from 2012 to 2015 and seeing the team progress to making the playoffs the past two seasons.
“It takes time … mentally, you get away from it all, but the way I approach everything is to gather as much information as possible, look at things that are of value to you,” van Riemsdyk said. “And I’m not that far into it yet, but I’ve (spoken) with guys from other teams and they have good things to say about where they play. But you dig deeper than that.”
Van Riemsdyk is fully aware the Leafs’ financial picture doesn’t hold room for too many big-dollar contracts, once the Big Three are signed. That’s why a contract extension — normally warranted after a season like the one he had — was never really discussed with the Leafs this season.
“No,” van Riemsdyk said when asked if an extension was talked about much this season. “But just knowing how things work. It’s never cut and dried there, and you know things can always change.”
Both coach Mike Babcock and GM Lou Lamoriello left the door open for the UFAs to return next season. Whatever the case, van Riemsdyk enters a summer of uncertainty.
“I’m not sure what the future holds,” he said. “But this is where I was given a chance to have a more meaningful role, so its been a huge honour to play for a franchise like this. I love playing here, I love the city, so we’ll see what happens.”