Although it appears unlikely Maple Leafs forward James van Riemsdyk will be moved before the trade deadline, as a potential unrestricted free agent July 1 he's aware that the deadline is approaching and what it might mean to his future.
"We're all human,"
van Riemsdyk told the Toronto Sun
. "Things usually work out the way they are supposed to, but that doesn't mean there are not moments where you are thinking about it more than other times."
General manager Lou Lamoriello has a track record for holding onto potential unrestricted free agents when his team is in contention for the playoffs. During Lamoriello's tenure with the New Jersey Devils, he opted not to trade big-name potential unrestricted free agents such as Scott Gomez (2006-07), Brian Gionta (2008-09) and Zach Parise (2011-12), and often looked to add players at the deadline to aid the team's pursuit of the Stanley Cup.
With the Maple Leafs third in the Atlantic Division with a 15-point lead on the fourth-place Florida Panthers, they are likely to qualify for the playoffs for the second season in row. So trading van Riemsdyk, who is second on the Maple Leafs with 20 goals, would make little sense.
The Maple Leafs might have more difficult decisions to make on their other potential unrestricted free agents: Forwards Tyler Bozak, Dominic Moore and Leo Komarov, and defenseman Roman Polak. They also must decide what to do about forward Josh Leivo.
Kypreos reported Saturday that Leivo, who signed a one-year contract with the Maple Leafs on Nov. 17 but hasn't played since Dec. 31,
has asked the Maple Leafs for a trade
. The 24-year-old responded to that report Monday, saying, "I just want to play hockey. I do want to play for the Maple Leafs, that's why I signed for another year, but at the same time I just want to play."
Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman also reported that the Maple Leafs might be looking to trade forward Nikita Soshnikov, 24, who is on a conditioning assignment with Toronto of the American Hockey League.