The best trade deadline deal is the one the Leafs didn't make. Leafs "own rental" JVR has out produced any of the big names moved at the deadline. Imagine the Leafs acquiring a big body to play in front of the net and ignite an already dangerous PP. Whatever JVR's motivation (win in his last year here, play for the next contract, less distraction) it has come at the best time. If he can carry this forward into the Playoffs and get us deep into the playoffs it will be the best move Lou didn't make by not trading him.
As far as losing 34+ goals, it will be tough to replace next year, but you have to hope a healthy Matthews adds another 15, Nylander and Marner will be pushing towards the 25-30 goal range next year with even more playing time and experience. Kapenen, Johnsson get moved up the lineup to get more ice time as well.
Plus how often do you see a team like the Leafs who are guaranteed to be making the playoffs trade a valuable player like JVR at the deadline? I know how he's about to become a UFA, however usually in a situation like that the player is on a team who will be missing the playoffs and they will want to get something of value in return.The best trade deadline deal is the one the Leafs didn't make. Leafs "own rental" JVR has out produced any of the big names moved at the deadline. Imagine the Leafs acquiring a big body to play in front of the net and ignite an already dangerous PP. Whatever JVR's motivation (win in his last year here, play for the next contract, less distraction) it has come at the best time. If he can carry this forward into the Playoffs and get us deep into the playoffs it will be the best move Lou didn't make by not trading him.
As far as losing 34+ goals, it will be tough to replace next year, but you have to hope a healthy Matthews adds another 15, Nylander and Marner will be pushing towards the 25-30 goal range next year with even more playing time and experience. Kapenen, Johnsson get moved up the lineup to get more ice time as well.
No chance, he should be gone. I would have shipped him out last summer for a first and some seconds if it were possible as I knew we were heading to a point where we would get nothing for him except for his help in the 2018 playoffs.
It's been fun watching JVR on this recent streak, but one cannot ignore the fact that he is a liability on the defensive end. The lack of defensive effort I've witnessed on numerous occasions from someone who actually has decent wheels, and is considered one of the fittest Leafs, is perplexing. I've never seen a player able to demonstrate both Nylander/Phaneuf like skating speed in the same game. His sheltered minutes is also a concern for a game that will probably get even faster across all lines in the future.
We could replace JVR with someone who scores half as many goals, but provides so much more to the team that we would be in a better place. Also, I'd prefer to use that money on a defensemen since that is obviously the area we could use improvement.
Someone will overpay for JVR based on his best scoring year, and he may even provide a few more more 30-35 year seasons. However, I don't see him continuing like this far into the future at which point you are left with a player that provide little benefit to your team.
In the opening post, I indicated the terms for the sake of discussion based on fair market value - 6-6.5 million for 6-7 years, which is realistic.
Obviously, JVR's not going to take a haircut (no pun intended Lou) to stay in Toronto, no matter how much he loves it here.
I know there are a couple of discussion threads out there, but this is just a straightforward poll to get a sense of fan sentiment.
Are you comfortable signing JVR to a new multi-year contract at fair market value?
For the sake of discussion, let's assume that is a 6-6.5 million AAV for 6-7 years.
How often does a team have 3 amazing young players on ELCs that have to be signed in the next year?