Will the Toronto Maple Leafs move James van Reimsdyk at the NHL trade deadline?
There are still a few holes Toronto Maple Leafs management wants to fill, especially on defense, but Mike Babcock and the team’s coaching staff has this club on the right track. Maple Leafs GM Lou Lamoriello wants to help his team’s defensive struggles, but it’s clear he won’t rush into making any moves to improve the blueline, or overall team defense.
Over the last month, we’ve heard James van Reimsdyk’s name popping up more and more in trade speculation, but nothing has changed from Toronto’s perspective. Would the Leafs move him? Sure, but it’s going to take a lot of convincing and you better be prepared to give up a top-tier defenseman in order to get him.
The Anaheim Ducks remain a logical destination for van Riemsdyk, but they’d have to cough up one of Cam Fowler or Sami Vatanen.
Other possibilities could be the Minnesota Wild, who have a surplus of top-tier defensemen whom they’d be exposing in the June expansion draft.
The New York Islanders, desperately in need of a top winger to play alongside John Tavares, consider JVR in a deal if it meant moving Travis Hamonic? Would the Los Angeles Kings look at JVR as an option to play with Anze Kopitar if it meant moving Alec Martinez?
One point to remember is that van Riemsdyk also has a 10-team no-trade list as part of his contract.
Source: The Fourth Period
