James van Riemsdyk has scored at a 0.71 pts/gm clip over the last three seasons – a 58 point pace over 82 games – and already has three 20+ goal seasons, with one at 30, for his career.
With the impending demolition of the Toronto Maple Leafs roster, some people have suggested moving on from van Riemsdyk as part of that. This thought couldn’t be further from what actually needs to happen.
The issue with JVR, like other players, is the level of insulation he has. Not every player can drive possession and be defensively responsible.