Toronto Maple Leafs: Van Riemsdyk for Vatanen Just Makes Sense

The Toronto Maple Leafs Moving James van Riemsdyk For Defense Just Makes Sense.

For quite some time now the Toronto Maple Leafs have been looking for an extra defenseman, preferably someone who can play in the top four. But the player involved in said deal has always come down to van Riemsdyk. Now while many fans obviously don’t want to see him go, him actually leaving may help the team.

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Now the Leafs are building within we all know this, using the draft and the AHL to bring future Leafs onto the ice. Toronto has three players that are ready for full-time play next season, Frederik Gauthier, Kasperi Kapanen, and defenseman Rinat Valiev. Now how would they fit? Well it’s quite simple actually the Leafs could move Leo Komarov to a team that could use some grit in exchange for draft picks, the team could also move defenseman Martin Marincin, Roman Polak, and Matt Hunwick for picks and prospects and demote Alexey Marchenko to the Marlies.

So who should the Leafs target with van Riemsdyk? Anyone with Anaheim, it seems behind closed doors both teams have signed a secret contract making them exclusive trading partners. Now comes to the part of who would Anaheim give up? Well, Cam Fowler is definitely out of the discussion after his post season plays as well as Shea Theodore. The Ducks spent months trying to sign Hampus Lindholm so it’s hard for them to toss away all of those man hours. Next would be Josh Manson who is on the rise, and the team needs Kevin Bieksa, leaving the odd man out in Sami Vatanen.

May 16, 2017; Nashville, TN, USA; Anaheim Ducks defenseman Sami Vatanen (45) against the Nashville Predators in game three of the Western Conference Final of the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Bridgestone Arena. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports /

Now they both have the stock that it could literally be a player for player trade with nothing else involved which is always great. Vatanen is a right-handed defenseman, something the Leafs have wanted for a while, he’s only 26 years old which means he’s in his prime, has four years left on his deal at $4,875,000 million per season. Van Riemsdyk, on the other hand, is a power forward who plays left wing, something the Ducks have wanted as well. James is 28 years old which means he’s in his prime as well but not for much longer, he has one year left on his deal at $4,250,000 next season. Now while Vatanen is a bit more expensive, the difference is basically who has more prime left in their game.

So if this deal goes through and the Leafs move said players above, they can put in new Marlies such as Carl Grundstrom, Jeremy Bracco, Calle Rosen and more into the lineup since the Leafs lineup will look much like this.

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Zach Hyman – Nazem Kadri – Mitch Marner
William Nylander – Auston Matthews – Connor Brown
Nikita Soshnikov – Tyler Bozak – Kasperi Kapanen
Matt Martin – Frederik Gauthier – Ben Smith

Morgan Rielly – Sami Vatanen
Jake Gardiner – Nikita Zaitsev
Rinat Valiev – Connor Carrick

Frederik Andersen.

So does this deal make sense and all of the above moves? I myself say yes, it’s hard to come across defenseman in their prime than forwards. And if the Leafs make this move they will be better.

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