JVR is not a great hockey player.
JVR is a first line quality player in the offensive zone. During the past five years for forwards JVR ranks 29th in goal scoring, 51st in total points and 52nd PPG overall in the NHL (Quanthockey). JVR has never played with a top line C during the last 5 years. He has played with a great O zone RW in Kessel and has for the most part enjoyed the same creativity when Marner was his RWer. Bozak, as JVR's primary C tops out as a 2nd line C in the O zone.
JVR is not a great player in the D zone. During the last five years his cumulative +/- (admittedly not the greatest stat) places him 910th (behind Kessel at 867th but ahead of Bozak at 920th) on the list of 928 forwards who have played since the 2013/14 season (Quanthockey). Obviously, some of the Leaf teams he played on were not good teams, did not have good coaching/goaltending/defense, but his obvious laziness/inability to engage in the D zone does not need statistical breakdown to be understood.
I think there is merit to the comments that suggest his value to the team has been hurt by pairing him with Bozak. There is also merit to the idea that placing him with a more complete C, one more defensively engaged, would help shield JVR, and thus the team, from some of his deficiencies. This will not, however, elevate his status to that of a 'Great' player. He was and is a complementary scoring winger, a very good one, with strong liabilities in the defensive zone. I struggle to understand why he is so defensively porous. When playing with Bozak and Kessel I'll offer a bit more leniency as they were facing the other's top lines or shutdown lines. However, under Babcock's time his minutes have been more sheltered. He has size, decent skating abilities, he knows how to position his stick and use his body to protect his position in the O zone and I would think these qualities could be translated to D responsibilities, yet he has consistently failed to commit to defensively responsible hockey. I can only surmise that he doesn't care about those responsibilities. The efforts are just not there. As this team moves forward, I do not want that type of player on the team. The mantra of management has stressed player accountability, JVR, Imo, does not meet that requirement and sets a negative influence for the younger players. Trade him.