If Mgmt had any reservations about resigning him or not, how he plays in these next 2 games, and what's left in this series will, if nothing else, make things clearer.
If we make a bit of a comeback in this series and if he really steps up, will mgmt have second thoughts about resigning?
Ah, my guess is NOT. My guess is mgmt will be moving on from JVR and they decided that quite a while ago. I think he'll want way way more than they would be willing to pay.
Even if he really steps up his game, he's not going to become the 200 foot kind of players that simply HAVE to be part of the Leafs future team defensive scheme, there HAS to include more 200 foot players. We've really topped up the system with skill and speed and lots of the youth look like they have what it takes to become 200 foot players, but, we still have to see - not all players (even if they have all the tools) DO become 200 foot players.
Would of been nice if they could of made a deal last summer - it wasn't to be. I think in the big picture, we're still on the right track and not getting something for the asset (JVR) isn't going to spell the end or doomsday or anything. There is some loss - his PP role and his in close scoring skill for sure, but, there's definitely some addition by subtraction because of his lack of defensive skill (putting it politely!) He's EXACTLY the kind of player that the Bostons of the NHL love to play against.