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James van Riemsdyk

WhatIfGodWasALeaf said:
RedLeaf said:
Burke's final trade as Leafs GM has the makings of being a real solid one. Schenn, so far looking average for Philly, and JVR coming to life for 2 big ones last night!
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Of course, but it's early, people did want to strangle JVR before he buried those two last night.

My only worry with him is that he could be yet another streaky scorer.

They could be in real trouble if Grabo, Kessel and JVR get cold around the same time, they have other streaky guys I haven't mentioned too.

What might save them is the fact that they are running three scoring lines, hopefully we can get production from at least one on most nights.
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I don't think fans were really down on JVR, I didn't hear people complaining about him after the first 2 games.  Like I mentioned before yesterday's game I don't think there was a huge amount of pressure on JVR to produce because he was acquired for Schenn, who was viewed as a disappointment for the Leafs.  So JVR was a gamble, you're getting a guy who fell out of favour in Philly for your own player who fell out of favour here.  Could work out for both teams, could be a failure for both. 
 
WhatIfGodWasALeaf said:
Like I mentioned It was early, but if you read the gameday threads, there were considerable rumblings about his ineffectiveness.
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Commenting about his ineffectiveness and "wanting to strangle him" are two different things.  I think a majority of fans were cutting him slack since he's on a new team, new system and it's only 2 games.  He WAS ineffective in the first two games but I don't think many Leafs fans were freaking out about it.
 
Zee said:
WhatIfGodWasALeaf said:
Like I mentioned It was early, but if you read the gameday threads, there were considerable rumblings about his ineffectiveness.
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Commenting about his ineffectiveness and "wanting to strangle him" are two different things.  I think a majority of fans were cutting him slack since he's on a new team, new system and it's only 2 games.  He WAS ineffective in the first two games but I don't think many Leafs fans were freaking out about it.
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Did you read my post? That's basically what I said. The strangle part was meant as humorous hyperbole.

They where a minority who did not like his effort and had he not stepped up that would only have increased. The term hate was banded around.

I was not worried, he's a streaky guy who may or may not break out.
 
Potvin29 said:
I'd say other than the elite scorers, most 2nd/3rd line guys in the league are streaky.
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Even the elite goal scorers are streaky - their dry periods just tend to be shorter and less frequent. But many of them will go 7-12+ games without scoring a goal.

I'm more encouraged by how JVR responded to Carlyle than the points he put up. Because if players like that make the effort he did, the points will come.
 
Amazing burst of speed by JVR last night late in the third when he blew by two defenders to go in on Neuvirth alone.  Please, please, please forgive me, but with his size and speed I swear I saw a flash, however brief, of Mats. 

*runs away quickly*
 
WhatIfGodWasALeaf said:
Like a lot of big men his acceleration isn't great, but he has above average speed.
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That play last night though to go on breakaway was explosive. I commented right after that, because I'd never seen that from him before. He looked like somebody gave him a slingshot or something.
 
BlueWhiteBlood said:
WhatIfGodWasALeaf said:
Like a lot of big men his acceleration isn't great, but he has above average speed.
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That play last night though to go on breakaway was explosive. I commented right after that, because I'd never seen that from him before. He looked like somebody gave him a slingshot or something.
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Completely agree.  It was like he was shot out of a canon.  That play alone showed me a side of JVR's game that I (ignorant as I am) did not know existed.
 
I will say this though, you look at him on the ice you (or I at least) see a skinny tall kid. When he fills out that frame with muscle, he's going to be hard to stop.
 
I said it in the GDT, but he kind of reminds me of Dave Andreychuk when he parks himself in front of the net like he has of late. (Big body, and soft hands)
 
RedLeaf said:
I said it in the GDT, but he kind of reminds me of Dave Andreychuk when he parks himself in front of the net like he has of late. (Big body, and soft hands)
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I'll take that if his career goes the way of Andreychuk. He scored mucho goals.
 
Zee said:
RedLeaf said:
I said it in the GDT, but he kind of reminds me of Dave Andreychuk when he parks himself in front of the net like he has of late. (Big body, and soft hands)
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I'll take that if his career goes the way of Andreychuk. He scored mucho goals.
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Lets not forget, Andreychuk put up a 50 goal season for the Leafs. JVR is on pace for 46, but that can obviously drop off drastically.

The fact of the matter is that it does not have to if JVR commits himself. He has the hands, speed, and IQ to put up goals at that pace.  He is a 2nd overall pick - there should be high standards for this guy all around, from others and from himself. 

Like what I have seen so far.
 
I really don't get where the opinion is that he's slow came from. He proved again yesterday he has wheels. He blew by the two guys trying to retrieve the puck.
 
Agreed. With Frattin playing well and the extra defencemen the pieces are in place for a 2 dimes and a nickel for a quarter trade (once Lupul and MacArthur come back)
 
caveman said:
Agreed. With Frattin playing well and the extra defencemen the pieces are in place for a 2 dimes and a nickel for a quarter trade (once Lupul and MacArthur come back)
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That begs the question: who is the quarter and which players are the dimes and nickel?
 
BlueWhiteBlood said:
I will say this though, you look at him on the ice you (or I at least) see a skinny tall kid. When he fills out that frame with muscle, he's going to be hard to stop.
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I thought it was pretty telling that Erskine tried to move him in front of the net (after a point shot save by Neuvirth) and JVR went nowhere. Erskine responded by trying to go after him a bit as I think he was surprised that all his strength couldn't move JVR.

I think he's a lot stronger and bigger than he looks.
 
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